Mumbai: 3 escape as city cops doze off in transit

Three handcuffed criminals, who were being brought to Mumbai from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh by the Nalasopara cops, jumped off a train after pulling the alarm chain as senior police officers dozed off in the wee hours of Monday.

A team of officers from Nalasopara police station comprising sub-inspectors Harshal Raut and Milind Tayde and constables Ajay Meghwale and Sandesh Chintakote was dispatched to Uttar Pradesh last week to arrest three individuals - Rehan Farooqui, Salim Wakeel Ahmed and Mohammad Anees - who were wanted in cheating cases. The policemen successfully arrested them at Kunda in Uttar Pradesh and the accused were later produced before a court in Pratapgarh. The trio were sent on transit remand till June 20. According to police sources, this is how events unfolded on the morning of June 17.

Illustrations/Uday Mohite

1. The cops had booked tickets in the first-class compartment of a Ghazipur City-Bandra Terminus express train. They boarded the Mumbai-bound train from Prayagraj junction at 12.45 am on June 17.

"As the accused were handcuffed, the police feel secure and less vigilant," said a source from the railway police in Etawah.

"Since it was late at night, the senior officers, Tayde and Raut, slept in the train, whereas both the constables were asked to guard the accused," said a police officer.

2. The train was about to arrive at the Etawah railway station when Meghwale stood up to answer nature's call. It was around 5.20 am and the train was between Ekdil and Etawah stations when one of the accused suddenly got up and pulled the chain.

3. Though Chintakote tried to stop him, the other two accused pushed him aside and made their way to the door of the compartment as the train slowed down.

4. Before the policemen could stop them, the handcuffed trio jumped off the train and disappeared.

5. Due to the commotion, the senior officers who were sleeping in the same compartment awoke and tried to take control of the situation. "It was like a Bollywood scene. There was a drain under the tracks where the train had stopped and the trio vanished," said a source.

6. "Though the policemen tried to chase them, it was too late," the source added. The empty-handed policemen later approached the Government Railway Police, Etawah where a fresh first information report was registered against the handcuffed accused under Section 224 of the Indian Penal Code on June 17. After initial efforts, the GRP officials arrested Anees and handed him over to the Nalasopara team.

June 17
Day cops, criminals boarded city-bound train

5.20 am
Time on Monday accused escaped