Escaped POCSO accused rearrested; three policemen suspended

A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and on charges of kidnapping, who escaped from the Afzalpur Police Station in the early hours of Thursday, was rearrested by the police near Tallanagi village in Kalaburagi taluk on Friday afternoon.

The accused, identified as Manjunath Ingale, had been arrested by the Afzalpur police in Pune, Maharashtra, on Wednesday following a complaint regarding the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl from a village in Afzalpur taluk.

Following the escape, Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu constituted a four-member special team headed by Police Sub-Inspector Somaling Wodeyar to trace the accused.

According to the police, the girl was traced along with the accused in Pune, and was brought back to Kalaburagi district. She was later sent for medical examination, while the accused was lodged at the Afzalpur Police Station.

The police said the accused allegedly broke free from his handcuffs during the night and escaped from the police station. CCTV footage reportedly showed him climbing onto the terrace of the building before fleeing from the premises. The police team successfully tracked him down and arrested him near Tallanagi village in Kalaburagi taluk on Friday afternoon.

Following the incident, Aland Deputy Superintendent of Police Thammaraya Patil conducted an inquiry and submitted a report to the Superintendent of Police.

Based on the report, Mr. Srinivasulu placed head constable Ravidas and police constables Shivanand and Prashant under suspension for alleged negligence of duty. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against Home Guards Shantisagar and Shrishail.