Notorious criminal escapes from custody; two cops injured

The Ludhiana police,apart from tracing Raja,are also trying to find out how this criminal managed to shift from Sangrur jail to Nabha,Ferozepur and then Bathinda.

Meanwhile,Barnala SSP Shive Kumar told ENS,“This man was being brought from Bathinda and the party was supposed to change bus at Barnala. It has been learnt that a white Accent car,in which three to four people were seated,was already parked at the bus stand. As soon as Raja alighted from a bus,the police party was attacked and Raja fled in the car along with his accomplices.”

The SSP added,“We are investigating the matter and have identified the car used in the escape.”

SP (D),Ludhiana,Gurpreet Singh Toor,meanwhile,said,“The injured cops have received serious head injuries and are admitted to the Civil Hospital in Barnala.” He added that the assailants had a country-made pistol and sharp-edged weapons.

Noteworthy here is that Rajiv and his companions were charged with the murder of Rakesh Sachdeva,owner of Raghav Jewellers,and Darshan Singh,another jeweler,and his wife.

Both these murders took place in July 2006. SSP (Ludhiana) R.K. Jaiswal said,“Raja is just 30 years old and is a hardened criminal. Nabbing him was not an easy task and his escape today is very unfortunate.”