Police nab last fugitive from prison van escape

ISLAMABAD: Rawalpindi police said they have arrested the final undertrial prisoner who escaped from a prison van while being transported from Kahuta tehsil courts to Central Jail Adiala, concluding the search launched after the incident.

The escape took place at Chakian Stop in the limits of Sihala Police Station, where 14 undertrial prisoners fled after allegedly throwing chilli powder into the eyes of police personnel escorting them, according to police. Officials said four of the prisoners were caught immediately at the spot by the escort staff, while the others, including Asim Danish and Asadur Rehman, escaped in different directions and went into hiding.

Police said the operation to trace the fugitives was carried out under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Malik Tariq Mehboob. Raids were conducted at the homes of the escapees and other places suspected of sheltering them. Police also contacted the suspects’ relatives and local elders, urging the prisoners to surrender and saying they would be dealt with under the law. At the same time, police warned that if arrest operations had to be carried out, they would not be responsible for any consequences arising from resistance.

According to police, the effort led to a series of arrests and surrenders over several days. Three of the escapees surrendered on the second and third days after the incident, and four more turned themselves in later. Police then arrested two additional fugitives before taking into custody the last remaining absconder, identified as Asad, on Sunday.

Police said the undertrial prisoners who escaped were facing cases involving narcotics, murder, robbery-cum-murder, attempted murder and causing grievous injuries. After his arrest, the last fugitive was handed over to Sihala Police.

A Rawalpindi Police spokesperson said all recaptured undertrials are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation. A sub-inspector and other police personnel taken into custody in connection with the episode are also being interrogated, the spokesperson said, adding that the search operation launched after the escape has now formally ended.