(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Mansa/Chandigarh
Notarious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi aide Deepak Tinu and one of the key accused in Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder case — escaped from the Mansa Police’s Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) unit’s custody in Punjab. Later Punjab police dismissed the CIA in-charge and arrested him.
Facing several cases including murder and extortion in various states, Tinu was allegedly involved in the planning of Sidhu Moosewala's murder. Punjab police had brought him on transit remand from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on July 4 last.
This is the second time that Deepak Tinu, among the 24 accused who have been charge-sheeted in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, has fled from the police custody. Earlier in 2017, Tinu had escaped with the help of another gangster and his aide from Haryana after throwing pepper spray in the eyes of a police official.
In December the same year, he was arrested by Bhiwani police from Bengaluru.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the FIR has been registered against the errant police official with CIA in-charge apprehended and suspended. “He has been dismissed from service under Article 311. No laxity will be tolerated,” he added.(SUBHEAD)
Notably, Tinu escaped from the Mansa CIA custody on Saturday night, at around 11 pm, when he was brought on a production warrant from Goindwal Sahib jail in Tarn Taran district in another case. DGP said that the search operation has been launched. “The police teams have fanned out and operation for re-arresting the accused launched,” he added.
An FIR under sections 222 (intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed), 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) 225-A (omission to apprehend, or sufferance of escape, on part of public servant…), and 120-B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the errant police officials.
Tinu is also said to be a close aide of gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, the prime accused in Sidhu Moosewala murder case. It has also been learnt that he had remained lodged with them in different jails.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was killed in Mansa district on May 29 when he was on his way to Jawahar Ke village in a jeep with his friend and a cousin. His vehicle was waylaid and bullets were sprayed on him by six shooters.
After the killing, Goldy Brar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the murder. Tinu is among 24 accused who have been charge-sheeted in the murder case.
Bathinda range’s Inspector General Mukhwinder Singh Chhina said that the police is working on the case. “The police teams are on the job and will catch him soon,” he said while talking with the reporters.
Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force, led by AIG Gurmeet Chauhan, has been rushed to Mansa to nab him. The Police of neighbouring states, including Rajasthan and Haryana, have been also been put on alert.
DGP Yadav said that a possible hide-out was raided by the police in Sirsa, Haryana, on Sunday.
NO HOPE FOR JUSTICE: MOOSEWALA’S MOTHER
Unhappy over the development, Sidhu Moosewala’s mother Charan Kaur on Sunday questioned how Deepak Tinu escaped from the police custody. She went on to allege that the arrested gangsters were getting “facilities” in the jails.
“Yesterday night, one escaped from the custody of CIA staff. How did he escape,” she asked in Mansa. Charan Kaur said that she had no hope of justice from the Punjab Government and the Punjab Police as “no action was being taken” to punish the accused, rather they were “being provided with amenities” within the jail cells.
She said that it was only the general public who had stood with her family in the difficult times.
At the same time, she announced that they would take out candle marches across the State to seek justice for Sidhu Moosewala.
“A WhatsApp number will be issued shortly and all those who wished to conduct the processions in their cities could reach out through the number,” she added.
OPPOSITION ATTACKS MANN FOR HIS ‘GARBA’ IN GUJARAT
The incident has prompted the Opposition parties in Punjab to attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led State Government, especially on the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for busy campaigning in poll-bound Gujarat. The Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, took to Twitter to attack the Chief Minister for playing ‘garba’ in Gujarat ignoring his state. “Gangster Deepak Tinu, a key suspect who was hauled in for interrogation in the case of Sidhu Moosewala, managed to escape from Mansa Police's custody in a cinematic manner while the CM of Punjab is busy performing 'Garba' in Gujarat,” he tweeted.
Hitting out at the police for its “negligence”, Bajwa said: “This is the height of Punjab Police and Administration's carelessness and negligence. Such errors and security breaches are inexcusable. If they are incapable of handling hardcore detained criminals, then God save the common man.”
Akali MP from Bathinda and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also tweeted, “While Pb CM @BhagwantMann is busy dancing Garba in Gujarat, Sidhu Moosewala killer Deepak Tinu escapes from police custody after being allowed use of phones & taken out without handcuffs in a private car late at night. No wonder there is Gangster Raj under @AAPPunjab.”
Former Minister and Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantt Pargat Singh said: “This reflects poorly on @PunjabPoliceInd and AAP Govt. Meanwhile, an unconcerned CM @BhagwantMann is busy playing Garba in Gujarat.”
Gangster Deepak who was caught in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case escaped from Mansa police custody last night. This reflects poorly on @PunjabPoliceInd and AAP Govt. Meanwhile an unconcerned CM @BhagwantMann is busy playing Garba in Gujarat.
Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma, in a tweet in Hindi, said: “Deepak Tinu, accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case and associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, escaping from the custody of CIA staff in Mansa is extremely worrying. Chief Minister and Home Minister are busy in political tours (for Gujarat elections), Punjab is suffering.”
