Another undertrial escapes from District Courts

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13

Less than a month after four undertrials escaped from the judicial lock-up at the District Courts, Sector 43, another undertrial escaped from police custody with the help of his girlfriend and two other friends today. The undertrial was wearing handcuffs. The accused, Rajan Bhatti, had shot at a UT police DSP and was arrested in May this year after a chase. He is the son of a head constable of the Punjab Police.

The constable, who had brought him to the court, has been arrested and put under suspension.

Bhatti was arrested on May 16 from Sector 9 following a chase. He had fired into the air on seeing a police party then. Sources said the accused pushed Constable Harbans Singh while he was coming out of the court on the third floor and was being taken downstairs to the Bakshikhana.  Bhatti fled allegedly with the help of his girlfriend Pooja and two other friends, Rajbir and Sunny, the police said. Pooja and the other two friends were present in the court when Bhatti was brought there.

The sources said Pooja was also present in the courtroom while Bhatti was produced in the court. Pooja handed over a mobile phone to the accused on which he also spoke to someone. 

The constable was reportedly not holding one side of the handcuff when the accused fled. While Pooja has been arrested, the other two accused are at large. Navdeep Singh Brar, ASP (South), said the accused was brought to court number 18 for a hearing when he fled.

Police officials said a case under Sections 322 (voluntarily causing hurt), 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension), 225 (resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension of another person) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

Several cases against accused 

The accused, Rajan Bhatti, son of a head constable of the Punjab Police, is a resident of Gurdaspur, who is wanted in three criminal cases in Chandigarh, besides several other cases of murder, attempt to murder and rape registered against him in Punjab. 

Was booked for rape accomplices, had thrashed a girl following a verbal altercation at a disco in Sector 17 in 2014. 

• He had opened fire outside a paying guest accommodation in Sector 37. 
• He was booked for raping a girl.

Past incidents this year 

September 23: Four undertrials fled from the washroom of the judicial lock-up after climbing pipes.

August 7: Pawan, an undertrial in a rape case, fled from the court complex.

June 9: Notorious snatcher Cheenu, who had fled from the District Courts in Sector 43 in March and was re-arrested by the crime branch in May, again fled from the District Courts.

March 24: Snatcher Cheenu,  reportedly involved in over 30 snatchings, gave the police the slip at the District Courts.

UT police in spot

The rising number of cases of undertrials escaping from the court complex has raised a question over the efficiency of the police in ensuring safe custody of inmates when brought to the court.