VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Five weeks on, the escape of Ishwar Makh-wana, facing serious criminal charges like rape, murder, kidnap, assault and theft, continues to baffle Goa Police.
The 24-year-old man from Indore has been absconding since December 10, 2018 when he grabbed the opportunity of a security lapse in the hospital, leaving the entire police force shamefaced.
The police higher ups may have been quick to suspend the negligent head constable and three constables attached with the Escorts Cell but their strategy to trace his whereabouts has failed.
While the search continues in and out of Goa, the incident has prompted the department to revise the procedure for escorting criminals outside the jail. “We have revamped our procedure for escorting criminals and the supervision,” Director General of Police Muktesh Chander told Herald.
The police officers are, however, optimistic of arresting him. “We cannot reveal our strategy. Every possibility is being looked into and he is soon to be arrested,” Chander said.
During the early hours of December 10, when the escort personnel were allegedly fast asleep, Makhwana, one of the accused in the Betalbatim gang rape case, walked out of Ward Number II of the T B Hospital at Bhatulem where he was admitted for treatment since November 27, 2018.
While the police maintain that his escape was not pre-planned, a probe into who visited him during his admission in the hospital as well as questioning of his accomplice in the gang rape case Ram Bariya and Sanjeev Pal are underway.
Sources said the absence of CCTV cameras in the hospital has been a major drawback. “The hospital does not have CCTV cameras. We have tried to find out from the adjacent houses and shops to share any required data, however, as per my knowledge no premises close to the hospital have CCTV cameras,” a senior officer, who has been closely monitoring the probe, said.
With a string of serious criminal charges slapped against Makhwana, DGP Chander has conceded he is a hardened criminal. “He is a hardened criminal who has not returned to his home (Indore) or contacted any one so far. He may be anywhere in the country. Our teams and Indore police are on his look out,” he said.
South Goa Additional Sessions Court, where the rape trial is underway, has declared him an absconder and he carries a Rs 1 lakh reward on head.
