A police investigation has revealed that “Picchi Raja”, an accused in 30 cases who allegedly escaped from a prison van while being transported to Kashimpur Central Jail, did not flee from Gazipur’s Baimail area as initially reported. Instead, he allegedly escaped from Dhaka’s Tantibazar in a private vehicle with the assistance of police officers.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) has arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the escape. They are Picchi Raja’s sister Taslima, escort team leader Sub-Inspector (SI) Probir Kumar, and driver Nayek Kamal Hossain.
Police also recovered Tk60,000 in cash from Kamal’s residence.
GMP Commissioner Md Israel Howlader disclosed the findings during a press briefing at the GMP headquarters on Monday afternoon.
According to the police commissioner, 30 accused persons were transported from Kashimpur Central Jail to a Dhaka court on 27 September for hearings and other court proceedings.
After the proceedings concluded, the prison van left Dhaka later that night to return the accused to the jail. During the journey, “Picchi Raja” escaped from custody.
In the initial case statement filed after the incident, it was claimed that when the prison van reached the Baimail area of Gazipur at around 8:30pm, SI Probir allowed “Picchi Raja” to get out of the vehicle to use the toilet.
Taking advantage of the situation, Picchi Raja allegedly fled, after which the remaining 29 accused were taken to Kashimpur Central Jail.
Following the incident, SI Probir, Constable Md Zakir Hossain, Constable Md Sakib, Constable Shakil Hossain and driver Nayek Kamal were suspended on charges of negligence of duty. A three-member committee was also formed to investigate the incident.
However, the investigation uncovered a different sequence of events.
The police commissioner said the prison van carrying the accused left the Dhaka District Judge Court for Kashimpur. On the way, the vehicle stopped near Popular Diagnostic Centre in Tantibazar, Dhaka.
There, SI Probir took the prison van keys from driver Nayek Kamal and brought “Picchi Raja” and another detainee, Khairul Bashar, out of the van.
While Khairul Bashar was seated in the front passenger seat beside the driver, “Picchi Raja” and SI Probir did not reboard the vehicle.
According to the investigation, “Picchi Raja” escaped at that point in a private car that had been waiting nearby. SI Probir later travelled to Baimail around 8:30pm, boarded the prison van and, along with members of the escort team, allegedly fabricated a story claiming that the accused had escaped from Baimail.
GMP Commissioner Israel said investigators identified those involved by collecting witness statements, physical evidence and forensic evidence, leading to the three arrests and the recovery of cash.
He added that efforts were continuing to arrest the fugitive and bring all others involved in the incident to justice.
