Goa police framing SOPs to foil Siddique-like escapes

Panaji: Goa police have decided to frame standard operating procedures (SOPs) to fix the responsibilities of the guard on duty and the in charge of police custody guard so that the accused in police custody do not escape.

Economic offences cell SP Arshi Aadil conducted a detailed inquiry into the escape of the 55-year-old criminal Suleman Mohammed Khan, alias Siddique, from police custody and submitted various recommendations to Goa police to avoid such incidents in the future.

A senior police officer said that a proper briefing would be given to the jail guard and their in charge before their deployment at police custody. The officer mentioned that the SOPs will specify the time of the guard on duty so that he does not become friendly with the accused.

A senior officer stated that in case the accused is known to the guard, then he should voluntarily inform the in charge and get relieved from duty to avoid any conflict of interest.

“We will frame the SOPs and implement them so that in future incidents like Siddique’s escape do not recur,” a senior officer said.

Goa police have taken action against six police personnel in connection with Siddique’s escape from the crime branch custody. Goa police dismissed Indian Reserve Police Battalion (IRBn) constable Amit Naik, who helped the accused flee from the lockup, and suspended head constable Sarvesh Kandolkar, who was the guard in charge of the crime branch custody at the time of the escape.

The force took minor and major action against four more personnel, including two police inspectors attached to the crime branch and IRBn, and two constables respectively.

A Tivim resident and native of Shivamogga in Karnataka, Siddique was involved in 15 cases across the country — seven in Goa, four in Hyderabad, three in Pune, and one in Delhi.

He was involved in three cases being probed by Goa’s special investigation team (SIT) for land grab cases and was a proclaimed offender in two cases from North Goa.

The SIT arrested him on Nov 12 after intensive efforts.

Siddique absconded for four and a half years. He was formally arrested in all three cases and placed in the crime branch lockup.

Siddique escaped from police custody on Dec 13 and was arrested in Kerala on Dec 23.

He took almost a fortnight to persuade Naik to help him escape from the crime branch custody by offering him Rs 3 crore. He promised Naik to pay the entire amount once they reached Bengaluru.