Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: Two militants including a dreaded divisional commander of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HuJI) today escaped from police custody at Patnitop-Batote road on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway when they were being taken back to District Jail in Udhampur after their court attendance in Kishtwar.
Sher Khan, a divisional commander of HuJI, who was involved in a number of murder cases and other militant activities and Jameel Abbas alias Abdullah escaped police custody after they took the excuse of attending to the nature’s call at an isolated slope between Patnitop and Batote this evening.
Police have arrested four police personnel, who were incharge security of the two militants, have been arrested and a case registered against them for de-reliction of duty. They have been suspended.
Police said Kishtwar police had brought seven detenues including Sher Khan and Abdullah from Udhampur and other jails, where they had been lodged, to Kishtwar this morning for their appearance in the courts. After court attendance, the detenues were being brought back from Kishtwar to Udhampur when Sher Khan and Abdullah pleaded for attending to the nature’s call.
The cops stopped the police vehicle and allowed the militants to move towards a slope between Patnitop and Batote road. The cops watched for few minutes but the terrorists didn’t return. They moved towards the slope only to find the militants absconding. They sounded an alarm and informed Batote police.
Police parties led by SP Ramban Anil Magotra fanned out in different directions but the militants remained untraced till late tonight.
Mr Magotra said police parties along with para-military personnel have cordoned off all possible routes and were conducting searches in the forest areas leading to Doda to track down the militants. However, they remained untraced.
The SP Ramban said four police personnel of Kishtwar district, who had been assigned the security of Sher Khan and Abdullah, have been arrested and lodged at Batote police station. A case has been registered against them.
Police have ordered an inquiry into escape of the militants.
Police said two cops were escorting two militants with weapons and two with handcuffs. There was one Incharge of all police personnel engaged with the detenues. He was also being quizzed though he has not been arrested.
Sher Khan, a divisional commander of HuJI had surrendered in November 2007 in Kishtwar. He was a resident of village Chatru and was involved in a series of cases of killings and other militant activities.
Abdullah, a resident of Reasi, was also involved in various militant activities.
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