Undertrial stabbed on P’garh court campus, accused held

Prayagraj: A 40-year-old undertrial sustained injuries after being stabbed by a 18-year-old youth on the district court premises under the limits of Kotwali police station of Pratapgarh district on Monday. He was rushed to the district hospital where his condition was stated to be stable.
The undertrial, identified as Atal Bihari Patel, has been lodged at the Pratapgarh district jail on charges of rape. He was being taken to the district court on Monday morning in connection with the hearing of a case registered under section 376 of IPC and POCSO Act when the incident took place.
Upon being alerted, senior police officials along with forensic experts and police forces rushed to the spot.
“The incident took place at 9:50 am on the campus of the district court when the undertrial was being brought for court hearing from jail,” said inspector general of police (Prayagraj range) Chandra Prakash after inspecting the spot.
The IG added, “When the escorting cops were taking the undertrial to the court, an 18-year-old youth rushed towards him and stabbed him before the escorting policemen could do anything.
The undertrial sustained injury in his left shoulder region. The attacker was immediately nabbed by the escorting cops and taken to the Kotwali police station for interrogation. It is being probed if the escorting cops were lax in discharge of duty.”
Pratapgarh police claimed that the accused youth wanted to kill the undertrial and had purchased the knife used in the crime from the market on May 20. He had also collected all details of the undertrial’s court visit on May 22. Both the undertrial and the accused have close relations which are being probed.