Burglar Makes Dramatic Escape During Police Transfer to Madurai
In a startling incident that has raised questions about police security protocols, a 23-year-old burglar managed to escape from police custody on Tuesday night while being transported from Coimbatore to Madurai. The escape occurred when a Coimbatore city police team was taking the accused and three others to appear before an advisory board regarding their detention under the stringent Goondas Act.
Details of the Escaped Accused and Criminal Background
The escaped burglar has been identified as Farman, originally from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. His criminal history reveals a pattern of organized burglary operations. Farman was initially arrested in November last year in connection with a sophisticated burglary at housing unit flats located in Kavundampalayam, Coimbatore.
During this criminal operation, Farman worked alongside several accomplices, including 18-year-old M Dawood, also from Uttar Pradesh. The modus operandi involved the duo visiting residential complexes under the guise of utensil sellers. They would carefully gather intelligence about locked flats and then relay this information to two additional accomplices who would execute the actual burglaries.
The Kavundampalayam Burglary Case
The specific burglary that led to Farman's arrest was particularly significant in terms of stolen valuables. The criminal group successfully made off with 42 sovereigns of gold ornaments, 500 grams of silver ornaments, and approximately Rs 1.5 lakh in cash. Police investigations revealed that an autorickshaw driver was indirectly involved in facilitating this burglary, though the exact nature of his involvement wasn't specified in initial reports.
Following the successful burglary, Farman and Dawood immediately left Coimbatore and returned to their home state of Uttar Pradesh, apparently attempting to evade capture. However, Coimbatore police continued their investigation and eventually arrested three other individuals connected to the case, including the implicated auto driver.
Violent Confrontation and Fatal Outcome
The police operation to apprehend the suspects turned violent when some of the accused attempted to escape during their initial arrest. Police officers were forced to open fire on the legs of fleeing suspects. Tragically, one of the accused, identified as 45-year-old Ashif, sustained bullet injuries during this confrontation and later died without responding to medical treatment.
Despite the geographical distance, Coimbatore police successfully tracked down and arrested Farman and Dawood from Uttar Pradesh, demonstrating the reach of their investigative efforts.
Goondas Act Detention and Transfer to Madurai
Former Coimbatore city police commissioner A Saravana Sundar took decisive action in December by detaining all four burglars under the Goondas Act. This preventive detention law allows authorities to detain individuals considered habitual offenders or threats to public order without immediate trial.
The detention required review by an advisory board, which was scheduled to hear the case in Madurai on Wednesday. In preparation for this hearing, police arranged to transfer the four accused from Coimbatore Central Prison to Madurai on Tuesday evening.
The Escape Incident Details
The transfer operation involved seven police personnel, including a special sub-inspector attached to the Coimbatore city armed reserve police. The plan was to lodge the burglars in Madurai Central Prison on Tuesday night before their scheduled board appearance.
However, around 7:30 PM, when the police vehicle stopped near Nagamalai Pudukottai to allow officers to have dinner, Farman seized the opportunity to escape. In a bold move, he pushed two police personnel and managed to flee from custody. Despite immediate pursuit by the remaining officers, they were unable to recapture him.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Search
Following the escape, Nagamalai Pudukottai police registered a case under Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with resistance or obstruction by a person to their own lawful apprehension or custody. This legal action underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the escape incident.
Police officials confirmed that an intensive search operation is currently underway to locate and apprehend the escaped burglar. Meanwhile, the remaining three accused were produced before the advisory board in Madurai as scheduled on Wednesday, though the proceedings were undoubtedly overshadowed by the escape of their co-accused.
This incident has prompted discussions about security protocols during prisoner transfers and raised questions about how such escapes can be prevented in the future, particularly when dealing with individuals detained under special laws like the Goondas Act.
