Poor security arrangements at bakhsikhana

Gagandeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 21

The police have failed to trace the undertrial, who fled from the police custody at bakshikhana (place where undertrials are kept before producing them in court) in the district courts complex here, even after 36 hours of the incident.

Harkamal Singh, a resident of Parasram Nagar, yesterday fled from the local bakhsikhana.

The police have booked Harkamal as well as Mehma Singh, a policeman deployed with him, under Sections 223 and 224 of the IPC.

There are no proper security arrangements outside both doors of the bakhsikhana, though close to 60 undertrials reach here daily for court hearing.

Even after Harkamal’s escape from the custody, there was no enhancement in the security today. Besides, relatives of undertrials could be seen meeting them easily in front of the police.

According to police sources, after fleeing from the custody, Harkamal reached Hariraipura village from where he purchased intoxicant powder and escaped with his three friends in a car.

The police party also conducted raid at Sema village as the police had got a clue from mobile location. His location was traced to Patiala last night, but after that his mobile was switched off.

Harkamal was arrested by the police after he fired on a local resident, Mohammad Ashraf, at Mehna Chowk.

Kuldeep Singh Bhullar, SHO of the Civil Lines police station, said police parties were conducting raids and the accused would be nabbed soon.

According to sources, proper security arrangements were not made in the past too when hardcore criminals and notorious gangsters were taken to the court complex for hearing.

Six months ago, the police had arrested three persons who had reached outside bakshikhana to help an undertrial escape.

Similarly, Naveen Kumar, a resident of Moga, had fled from the courts complex two years ago.