Chhattisgarh: Undertrial accused of sexual assault escapes police custody in Jashpur, five cops suspended

RAIPUR: In a security lapse reported in Chhattisgarh, a 24-year-old undertrial accused of sexually exploiting and brutally torturing a minor girl escaped from police custody while being transported back from a court hearing in Jashpur district.

Following the escape, five police personnel were immediately suspended for gross negligence by SSP Shashi Mohan Singh.According to SSP Singh, the accused, Ritesh Pratap Singh, a resident of Dugdugiya village under Kunkuri police station, was being brought back from Kunkuri court on the night of June 2, when he managed to slip out of his handcuffs and chains, leapt out of the moving police van near Loro Ghat, and fled into the forest.The escape took place around 7:45 PM, and the officers on duty failed to respond in time to prevent him from fleeing. Singh had been taken to court earlier that day along with six other undertrials in a government vehicle.Ritesh was initially jailed for allegedly sexually exploiting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage. After being released, he reportedly assaulted the survivor again, pressuring her into marriage and even branding her private parts with a cigarette, according to the police.

He was re-arrested and sent back to Jashpur district jail on May 21, following the survivor's fresh complaint.Terming it a serious case of dereliction of duty, SSP Shashi Mohan Singh suspended five personnel escorting the accused head constable Sunasay Ekka, constables Luvkush Pankara, Janak Sahay, Diamond Tigga and Puturu Ram. These officers have been attached to the reserve centre in Jashpur during the investigation and will receive only subsistence allowance during their suspension. A preliminary inquiry has been assigned to SDOP Chandra Shekhar Parma.A special police team has been formed to trace the fugitive, and a search operation has been launched in the surrounding forest areas.