Thane: In a major security lapse, a 19-year-old accused, who was arrested for possession of an illegal pistol and three bullets, escaped from custody at the Chitalsar police station in Thane on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Prince Vishwakarma, a native of Lucknow.
The police said they received information that a person matching a specific description was coming to a place near Gandhi Nagar on Tuesday. Accordingly, the police laid a trap and arrested the accused. The youth was produced in court earlier in the day and was scheduled to be transferred to judicial custody when he managed to break free, sliding his hand through the handcuffs.
According to the police, the suspect was handcuffed at the time but somehow managed to loosen his restraints and slip away unnoticed. The escape has raised serious questions about the security protocols at the station, and police are now investigating how the accused was able to evade police supervision.
As soon as the escape was discovered, Thane police launched a massive manhunt to track down the accused. Multiple police teams have been deployed, and officers are combing through CCTV footage from the area in an effort to trace the suspect’s movements. Checkpoints have also been intimated and neighbouring police stations have been alerted, said a police officer
Senior officials have stated that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine any potential lapses in security procedures and identify those responsible for overseeing the accused.