TURA: A rape accused under trial prisoner who escaped from custody during transit from the Tura District Jail to the Civil Hospital for medical treatment has been recaptured after a week from Tura town itself, late Wednesday afternoon.
The rape accused 21 year old Johnstar R Sangma had jumped off a police vehicle that was escorting him to the hospital on November 26th at Reserve Gittim area of the town and disappeared despite a frantic search to nab him.
Initially, it was suspected that the escaped jailbird had fled town towards his home destination of Siju in South Garo Hills.
“We received credible inputs that he has been moving in and around Tura market areas and trying to contact some persons. Accordingly, several teams were pressed into an operation and we nabbed him around 3:30 in the afternoon following a hot chase,” revealed West Garo Hills superintendent of Police MGR Kumar.
The accused, who had completely changed his get-up and had a new set of clothes and a disguise to pass off as a commoner was spotted loitering around the Tura Members’ hostel, next to Ringrey market area, in the heart of Tura.
It is suspected that he may have been trying to gel in among the labourers who work in the commercial trucks stationed nearby or hitch a ride out of the town since police had put up check points at all entry and exit points of the town to nab him.
“Our police personnel dressed as civilians spotted him and when accosted he tried to break free by running down towards the Tura market area. There was a hot chase and he was ultimately caught,” revealed Dr Kumar.
Having sustained a leg injury during his daring escape from the vehicle transporting him to hospital, last week, the jailbird was quickly caught up by the persuading cops.
Meanwhile, investigation is underway to identify those persons who helped provide shelter and clothes to the recaptured prisoner in the last one week.
Police officials maintain that the accused was given some form of help, intentionally or otherwise, by someone which helped him to move around freely in the town until his recapture.