E-Paper
From loo break to old smack haunt: Theft accused back in police lock-up after brief escape
According to police, Shanu alias Mohd Samad had been arrested in connection with a house burglary and was lodged at Thakurganj police station. On Monday morning, he asked to use the toilet. While being taken there under the supervision of a sentry constable, he used a second bathroom door, entered the vehicle parking area and escaped from the police station premises.
A 32-year-old theft accused who escaped from Thakurganj police station through a bathroom door on Monday was arrested within hours from an area where he allegedly used to consume smack, police said.
According to police, Shanu alias Mohd Samad had been arrested in connection with a house burglary and was lodged at Thakurganj police station. On Monday morning, he asked to use the toilet. While being taken there under the supervision of a sentry constable, he used a second bathroom door, entered the vehicle parking area and escaped from the police station premises.
The bathroom had two doors, one of which generally remained closed and opened towards the area where vehicles were parked, Thakurganj SHO Omveer Singh Chauhan said.
A second case under sections 261 and 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered following the escape, and four police teams were formed to trace him. The search led police to Chaupatiya road, an area where he used to consume smack before his arrest, the SHO said.
“He is addicted to substance abuse and consumes smack frequently. He was found near the same place where he used to consume it,” Chauhan told HT.
Police said Shanu sustained injuries while being apprehended. According to the SHO, the accused allegedly injured himself to create a situation where police would not use force against him.
Shanu’s escape came a day after his arrest in connection with a burglary reported in Niwazganj. According to the FIR, an unidentified person entered the house of Sushila Sahu in Panni Wali Gali around 2.30am on August 7 by climbing onto the roof. The intruder allegedly stole cash kept in an almirah and a mobile phone before fleeing.
Following a probe involving CCTV footage, local intelligence and informers, police arrested Shanu around 11.40pm on August 9 from Gulalaghat, police said. He was subsequently lodged in the police station lock-up.
Police said the mobile phone allegedly stolen during the burglary was recovered from him.
The accused has several previous cases against him, including theft and house-breaking cases registered at Talkatora and Aliganj in 2016. Police records also show cases registered against him in Thakurganj in 2024 and 2025.
The cases registered against Shanu include offences relating to theft, house-breaking, voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and possession of stolen property. Further legal proceedings are underway, police said.
