The Mehatpur police have charged three head constables, a convict's son and nephew, and three unidentified persons, with helping a person, convicted in a poppy husk smuggling case escape from custody on Thursday night.
SHO Surinder Pal Singh said that the convict Balwant Singh was out on parole. He was injured in an accident and had been admitted to the local Shri Guru Tej Bahadur hospital. Three head constables, Rachhpal Singh, Mandeep Singh and Charanjeet Singh, had been deputed to guard the convict.

The SHO said that the convict escaped from hospital on Thursday night, but was arrested on Friday.

Balwant's sons Kulwinder Singh, nephew Jaswinder Singh and their three unidentified accomplices have also been booked.

A case under sections 223 (escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by public servant) and 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) of the IPC has been registered against all the accused. The case was registered on a statement from Dr Santokh Singh of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.