Murder accused escape bid foiled after kin surround police van in Mumbai

An officer from Sakinaka police station and a constable from the Navi Mumbai police were injured while they tried to stop two accused from escaping.

On Tuesday, a prison guard’s party headed by assistant police inspector Arlekar was escorting Tabrez Khan and Salim Siddique from Dindoshi court to Taloja Jail. The Powai police had arrested Khan and Siddique last year in a murder case.

“One of the accused had submitted an application in the court, which was rejected. As they got out of the main gate, 10-12 relatives of the accused stopped the prison van, in which, Khan and Siddique were travelling. They had put their bikes and other vehicles in front of it in a bid to take out the accused by roughing up the guards,” said a police officer.

Police said that the two then started hitting their heads on the seat to show that they were beaten up by the police.

“They also started damaging the vehicle from inside. Somehow, the police managed to move the vehicles with the help of sub inspector Hule of Sakinaka police, who was crossing from the spot,” said the officer.

The relatives then started following the vehicle as Hule, Arlekar and other moved towards Aarey Check naka. They stopped the van by overtaking it and. “As soon as the van stopped, Siddique got into a physical fight with a constable inside. He punched him on his face and arm.”

While the constable and Siddique got into a fight, Khan attacked Hule and Arlekar, police said.

“He bit Hule, who was trying to control the others outside the van, from the window and hit Arlekar on his wrist. He also snatched Hule’s mobile phone and threw it on the road. Meanwhile, a female relative of the accused tried to open the door of the van. Seeing an opportunity, both the accused tried to escape, but were stopped by the injured staff,” said the officer.

As they saw their plan failing, some of the relatives outside fled from the spot.

Four of them including two males and two females along with the murder accused were taken to Vanrai police station, where a complaint was registered under sections 353, 332, 333, 341, 143, 146, 149, 224, 427 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was later transferred to Dindoshi Police station. Police said they are investigating the case further and a search operation is in place for the other accused in the case.

First Published: Aug 30, 2018 11:16 IST