An investigation found inconsistencies in the accounts given by five police personnel who were escorting the accused, prompting departmental action against all of them.
File photo of Raja, alias Pichchi Raja. Photo: Collected
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File photo of Raja, alias Pichchi Raja. Photo: Collected
Top drug trader Raja, alias “Picchi Raja”, did not escape from a prison van in Gazipur as initially reported. He fled from the Tantibazar area of Dhaka, according to a preliminary police investigation.
Nearly seven days after his escape, police are yet to recapture the 30-year-old accused.
Meanwhile, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) have arrested two police personnel on allegations of helping him escape by providing false information and negligence of duty.
The arrested officers are Sub-Inspector (SI) Prabir Kumar, who was responsible for the security of the prison van, and Nayek Kamal Hossain, the van driver.
Three other police personnel who were suspended over the incident – constables Md Zakir Hossain, Md Sakib and Shakil Hossain – have been placed under close surveillance. Departmental cases have also been filed against all five officers.
According to the initial account, 30 accused were taken from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur to a Dhaka court for a hearing on the morning of 27 September.
While returning to the jail, the prison van reached the Naojor or Baimail area of Gazipur around 8pm. An SI accompanying the van allegedly took Picchi Raja out to use the toilet, after which he fled.
The other 29 accused were taken back to the jail.
Following the escape, authorities formed an investigation and monitoring committee to question the five police personnel on duty.
The committee found inconsistencies in their statements, including conflicting accounts of where Picchi Raja had escaped from.
Mohammad Mahiul Islam, deputy commissioner (SB) of GMP and head of the monitoring committee, told journalists that the five suspended police personnel were being questioned in various ways but had not provided accurate information.
“They are giving different accounts about where the accused escaped from. We have learned that the place they initially mentioned as the site of the escape was also incorrect,” he said.
He said the five officers had been suspended and departmental cases filed against them. Further action would be taken after the monitoring process is completed and a report is submitted.
Earlier, Kashimpur Central Jail-1 Jailer Jahangir Alam had said that a major operation was underway to recapture Picchi Raja.
Picchi Raja is known as a top drug trader in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area. He has around 25 cases filed against him with Mohammadpur Police Station and other police stations over allegations involving drugs and illegal firearms.
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