The Central police station in the heart of the city witnessed high drama in the early hours of Wednesday when an accused jumped the prison cell and fled after throwing curry into the eyes of the guard.
The Central Police had taken into custody Tafseer Darvesh, 21, of Ponnani in Malappuram from a court in Angamaly on Monday after he was arraigned as an accused in a case registered for serial theft at Broadway and areas near Ernakulam Market a couple of months ago.
His cellmate and co-accused in the case, Muhammed Aslam, 19, of Ponnani requested the guard on duty to be taken to the toilet around 3.30 a.m. The guard obliged and it was while taking Aslam back to the cell that he came under attack from Tafseer who threw the curry from the previous night kept in a disposable glass into his eyes, a release issued by the police here said.
The two accused then joined hands to assault the guard. However, Tafseer alone managed to flee the cell as Aslam was overpowered by other policemen.
Though policemen tailed Tafseer, he managed to escape. Patrol teams and other police stations within the city limits were immediately alerted. Combara Junction and areas near the adjoining mosque along which the accused fled was examined using the dog squad.
The guard who was attacked was given treatment at the General Hospital after he complained of unease.
A case has been registered against the accused invoking IPC Sections 225 (Resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person) and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), said A. Ananthalal, Inspector, Central Police.