Jammu: Two militants of Ha
rkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HuJI), militants including hardcore divisional ‘commander,’ escaped from police custody on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district while they were being shifted back to District Jail in Udhampur from Kishtwar after their court attendance.
“The HuJI divisional ‘commander’ Sher Khan, who was involved in a number of murder cases and his associate Jameel Abbas alias Abdullah, escaped from police custody last evening after they took the excuse of attending to the nature’s call at an isolated place between Patnitop and Batote on the highway,” sources here today said.
They stated that the four police personnel, who were in-charge of security of the two militants, have been arrested and a case has also been registered against them for de-reliction of duty while they have been placed under suspension.
“Kishtwar police had brought seven detenues including Sher Khan and Abdullah from Udhampur and other jails for appearing in the courts. After attendance, the detenues were being brought back to Udhampur when they pleaded for attending to the nature’s call,” they added.
However, taking an advantage, both of them escaped from the police custody.
“All possible routes are cordoned and searches are being conducted in the forest areas leading to Doda to trackdown the militants,” sources further said.
Sher Khan, a divisional commander of HuJI had surrendered in November 2007 in Kishtwar. He was a resident of village Chatroo and was involved in a series of cases of killings and other militant activities.
Abdullah, a resident of Reasi, was also involved in various militant activities.
Police have ordered an inquiry into the case.
