Panaji: An undertrial in a dacoity case escaped from the Judicial custody on Tuesday night when he was brought for the medical check up at Asilo hospital, Mapusa.
A senior police official said that the accused fled away after forcibly breaking open the handcuffs and also his accomplice, who had come to pick him up from the spot after the escape on a two-wheeler, fired in the air, using revolver.
The accused Vivek Gautam, 28, originally from Chandranagar, Agra (UP), was arrested in January, 2019 in connection with a dacoity at Porvorim area near Panaji.
Police said that the accused was referred to District Hospital in Mapusa, also known as Asilo Hospital by Colvale Jail authorities after he complained of stomach ache and vomiting at 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday.
He said that the accused was handcuffed while being brought to the hospital and also after showing to the doctor
“When he was brought outside the hospital, he broke the handcuffs forcefully and started running away,” he said.
“The constable chased him, but one person at the gate of the hospital appeared at tried to put pepper spray on his eyes. However the constable continued chasing the person. Outside the hospital at a nearby road, one blur coloured scooter with another person was also present,” he said.
“The PC chased the accused the accomplices and one of the accomplice put pepper spray over his eyes. Inspite of this the PC chased the scooter on which the undertrial and the person using pepper spray were trying to sit.”
“At some distance of around 100 meters , one of the persons on the scooter fired one round in air from a desi katta / revolver. After this, the undertial and his two accomplices fled away from the spot,” the police said.
“On searching near the spot, one full magazine containing 7.65 mm round bullets has been recovered. Also the pepper spray used has been recovered, along with the broken handcuff,” he said.
“Police teams are currently developing CCTV footage in the area. All Border Check Posts, airport, railway stations, night patrolling staff was alerted and flashed message about the incident,” he said.
