Chhattisgarh: Undertrial accused of sexual assault escapes police custody in Jashpur, five cops suspended

mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalRAIPUR: In a security lapse reported in Chhattisgarh, a 24-year-old undertrial accused of sexually exploiting and brutally torturing a minor girl escaped from police custody while being transported back from a court hearing in Jashpur district. Following the escape, five police personnel were immediately suspended for gross negligence by SSP Shashi Mohan Singh.mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalAccording to SSP Singh, the accused, Ritesh Pratap Singh, a resident of Dugdugiya village under Kunkuri police station, was being brought back from Kunkuri court on the night of June 2, when he managed to slip out of his handcuffs and chains, leapt out of the moving police van near Loro Ghat, and fled into the forest.mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalThe escape took place around 7:45 PM, and the officers on duty failed to respond in time to prevent him from fleeing. Singh had been taken to court earlier that day along with six other undertrials in a government vehicle.mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalRitesh was initially jailed for allegedly sexually exploiting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage. After being released, he reportedly assaulted the survivor again, pressuring her into marriage and even branding her private parts with a cigarette, according to the police.mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalHe was re-arrested and sent back to Jashpur district jail on May 21, following the survivor's fresh complaint.mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalTerming it a serious case of dereliction of duty, SSP Shashi Mohan Singh suspended five personnel escorting the accused head constable Sunasay Ekka, constables Luvkush Pankara, Janak Sahay, Diamond Tigga and Puturu Ram. mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalThese officers have been attached to the reserve centre in Jashpur during the investigation and will receive only subsistence allowance during their suspension. A preliminary inquiry has been assigned to SDOP Chandra Shekhar Parma.mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normalA special police team has been formed to trace the fugitive, and a search operation has been launched in the surrounding forest areas.