Much to the embarrassment of Darrang Police, a handcuffed criminal, who was under police custody, managed to escape.
According to police, acting on tip-off about possible monetary deal for a rhino horn, Darrang Police on Monday night laid a trap engaging police in civil dress in the guise of buyers and made a deal with suspected poachers at Silbori village near Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve under Dalgaon Police Station.
However, the suspected poachers attacked the police team in civil dress and three policemen – Matleb Ali, Hemanta Kalita and Ainul Haque – were injured.
An additional police team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (in Probation), Darrang, Mohan Meena and Amit Kr Hojai, Deputy Superintendent of Police immediately stepped in and nabbed one miscreant identified as 28-year-old Hatem Ali.
The injured policemen and the accused were first brought to Kharupetia Primary Health Centre and then to Mangaldai Civil Hospital at around 12 midnight.
The accused, Hatem Ali, who received injuries, was admitted to bed No 22 in the male surgical indoor ward of the civil hospital under strict police vigilance with handcuff in his hand tied to the hospital bed.
However, in the wee hours, keeping the policemen on duty in the darkness, Hatem Ali got out of the handcuff and managed to escape from the hospital.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP), Darrang, Sreejith T., while talking to Northeast Now, over the telephone didn’t rule out lapses on the police part and assured of nabbing the accused, who escaped, within a short time.
“Naturally, there are some lapses on our part. But the absconding criminal will be nabbed very soon. We have also identified the criminals involved in the police attack and they will also be booked soon. In this regard, we have already registered a case,” said the Darrang SP.