From one leg to another, fugitive’s short-lived escape ends in second encounter

A POCSO accused, Santosh, escaped from a hospital after being shot in one leg, but was recaptured later the same day, shot in the other leg.

Call it a sequel nobody asked for, a POCSO accused who was shot in one leg during an encounter on Sunday managed to limp his way out of a hospital on Monday after giving the cops the slip, only to be caught after yet another encounter and shot in the other leg later the same day. This incident led to the suspension of three policemen who were on duty at the hospital.

Santosh in police custody after second encounter on Monday. (HT PHOTO)

The accused, identified as Santosh, a resident of Linepar area in Firozabad, was booked on October 12 this year for attempted rape of a minor under the POCSO Act. However, he had been absconding, stated ASP Firozabad City, Ravi Shankar Prasad, adding that he was arrested on Sunday evening after sustaining an injury to his left leg during an encounter with the police from Rasoolpur police station in Firozabad.

Santosh was admitted to the trauma centre of Firozabad medical college but escaped from there on Monday morning. Three policemen on duty have been suspended, and a case has been filed against Santosh for absconding from police custody.

Prasad stated that three police teams were formed to capture him.

Later that day, police received information that the accused was hiding near Dau Dayal Stadium on Jalesar Road. When the police team approached, Santosh opened fire on them, and in response, the police returned fire, injuring him in the leg. The accused was arrested and has been hospitalised again for treatment under tight security, added Prasad.