Police units divided over surrender of Anandpal

JAIPUR: A year after notorious fugitive Anandpal Singh escaped the clutches of police, he has continued to elude the special operation group (SOG), anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and district police units set up to nab him.
They have, however, arrested 65 people, said to be members of his gang and close aides, seized his properties and neutralized his gang to some extent over this period.
But there seems to be a division among SOG, ATS and state police headquarters on letting Anandpal surrender.
This cropped up as an option after unconfirmed reports appeared three months ago about his willingness to surrender, which he allegedly made known to senior SOG officials through his lawyer.
On September 3 last year, Anandpal had escaped with his aides when they were returning from a court hearing in Didwana to their prison in Ajmer. Two SUVs had waylaid the police van and escort car at Khokhar village near Parbatsar on the highway and fired at them.
Policemen, seemingly drugged, helpless and unable to react, ducked for cover as Anandpal and two of his accomplices managed to escape.
Following this, Anandpal's properties were seized, his close aides arrested, and raids carried out in places where he had taken shelter during the escape. The SOG and other units have now tightened the noose and are waiting for the fugitive to make one mistake.
At least, five teams have been deployed at various parts of the state and country to look for clues. "Since we arrested his trusted men Aazaad Singh and Mahipal Singh, considered the sharpshooter and think tank of his gang, respectively, he has been very careful and has not spoken to his men or family members. He is a master at finding hideouts. We don't have any strong leads right now," said a senior officer of SOG and ATS on condition of anonymity on Saturday.
If sources from the state police headquarters are to be believed, some senior officers are of the view that if Anandpal wishes to surrender, he should be allowed to do so. But there are some who disagree.
"His escape has proved fatal to many policemen, including 24-year-old Khuma Ram, a member of the quick response team of the Nagaur police who was killed. He should not be allowed to surrender. We will find him and arrest him. He has given a bad name to the police," said a senior officer. In one year, various units of state police have arrested 65 people, who they claimed to be his aides. However, Anandpal and four of his close aides are still on the run.