Escort officer unlocked prison van, helped 'Picchi Raja' escape: GMP

A police sub-inspector escorting a prison van allegedly unlocked the vehicle in Old Dhaka and personally helped top drug dealer Raja alias "Picchi Raja" get into a waiting getaway car, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) said today (5 October).

GMP Commissioner Md Israil Howlader said SI Prabir Kumar Biswas, who was in charge of the escort, took the prison van's key from driver Naik Kamal Hossain, opened the vehicle in front of Popular Diagnostic Centre in Tantibazar and escorted Picchi Raja to a waiting car.

The commissioner said Picchi Raja's sister Taslima and other associates were inside the car as part of what police described as a pre-arranged escape plan.

He also said the initial police account that Picchi Raja had escaped after getting off the van in Gazipur on the pretext of going to a washroom was fabricated to conceal what actually happened.

"No matter who the offender is, even if they are a police member, no allowance will be made for anyone. A thorough and proper investigation will take place, and appropriate legal action will be taken against all responsible," Israil Howlader said at an emergency press conference.

The incident took place on 27 September after 29 accused were taken from Kashimpur Central Jail to a Dhaka court for a hearing.

After the proceedings, the prison van stopped around 8:30pm in front of Popular Diagnostic Centre in Tantibazar while returning to Kashimpur.

According to the investigation, Prabir took the key from Naik Kamal Hossain, opened the van and brought out Picchi Raja and another detainee, Khairul Bashar.

Bashar was placed in the front section beside the driver, but Picchi Raja and Prabir did not return to the vehicle.

The commissioner said a car had been waiting nearby under the alleged pre-arranged plan. Prabir, who was in plain clothes, allegedly put Picchi Raja into the car and helped him leave the scene.

The prison van then continued towards Kashimpur with the remaining 28 detainees.

Prabir later rejoined the van near Naojor Highway Police Station in Baimail, Gazipur, according to the police investigation.

After reaching Kashimpur Jail, the escort team allegedly reported that Picchi Raja had got off the van in the Baimail or Naojor area to urinate and then fled.

A case was filed with Konabari Police Station under Section 224 of the Penal Code over the alleged concealment and staging of the escape. The investigation was later handed over to the GMP DB (South) Division.

Prabir, Naik Kamal Hossain and prison van constables Md Zakir Hossain, Md Sakib and Shakil Hossain have been suspended and face departmental proceedings over alleged negligence and criminal conspiracy.

The three constables are being interrogated under surveillance, police said.

Police have arrested Prabir, Kamal and Picchi Raja's sister Taslima in connection with the escape.

Police also recovered Tk60,000 from Kamal's home, according to the GMP commissioner.

Eight days after the incident, Picchi Raja remains at large. DB teams are conducting raids in Dhaka and Gazipur to arrest him and other alleged associates.

Picchi Raja, 34, is known to police as a drug dealer operating in Mohammadpur and faces 30 cases involving drugs and arms, according to GMP.