POCSO Accused Escapes Police Custody, Rearrested; Three Suspended

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

The accused, identified as Manjunath Ingale, was taken into custody by the Afzalpur police in Pune, Maharashtra, on Wednesday in connection with the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl from a village in Afzalpur taluk.

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

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

The police said the accused allegedly freed himself from handcuffs during the night and escaped from the station. CCTV footage showed him climbing onto the terrace of the building before fleeing. The police team tracked him down and arrested him near Tallanagi village on Friday afternoon.

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.