Undertrial accused slips from cops' custody on court premises

LAHORE An under-trial accused in a murder case fled from Aiwan-e-Adl on Monday, after hoodwinking the police officials guarding him and two others. Three accused persons were produced in the court of Additional and District Sessions Judge Muhammad Akram Chaudhry for trial in a murder case. On-duty police officials revealed that after being tried the three were sent back to 'bukshi khana, but the 'naib-court demanded of the bukshi khana officials to hand the three accused over to him once again. Bukshi Khana Incharge SHO Zaheer allowed the prisoners to go with naib-court Khalid. One of the accused persons namely Muhammad Amin S/o Boota made an offer of food and drinks to the police officials escorting them, which they accepted. Two policemen and one accused lost their senses while they were having 'intoxicated soft drinks, a police official requesting not to be named said. He further said that on finding the police officials and the other accused unconscious Muhammad Amin fled the scene. The bukshi khana incharge should not have allowed the accused to go with the naib-court when the procedure of the trial was already completed, and the judge had left for a judges meeting. On-duty police officials in the bukshi khana requesting anonymity commented that police officials should not accept offers of any accused, as they could go to any extent to escape from police custody. Sources in the bukshi khana claimed that intoxicated drinks were just a 'drama. They maintained that it was an attempt to hide the involvement of police officials in the fleeing of the accused person. When contacted, Bukshi Khana Incharge SHO Zaheer to know about the story, he said that naib-court Khalid and others had been arrested. He further said that the policemen and the accused that consumed intoxicated drinks had been admitted to the Mayo Hospital. He refused to reveal the names of those who facilitated the escape of the accused Amin. Bukshi khana police officials informed this scribe that DSP (Judicial) Khalid Mateen, SHO Zaheer and Reserve Inspector Butt were inquiring into the incident. As per information, an FIR has been lodged against three police officials namely Munir, Yaseen and Khalid (naib-court) in the Islampura Police Station for their alleged negligence on account of which the accused Muhammad Amin S/o Boota escaped from the clutches of the police officials.

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