VISAKHAPATNAM: A notorious thief escaped from the custody of an escort team of two Armed Reserve (AR) head constables at the Central Prison in the port city in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday evening.
The thief was identified as Bottala Prabhakar (25) of West Godavari district, who was involved in more than 100 cases across the state.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening but it came to light on Friday when the two AR constables were suspended.
The prisoner had a history of many cases, including more than 20 cases in Vizag alone.
He was arrested by city cops a year ago after he was involved in a burglary in a pastor’s house in Bakkannapalem. He was also involved in many robbery cases in Gajuwaka, Sabbavaram, Anakapalli in the Visakhapatnam district, and many places in the north Andhra districts.
According to sources, the thief was taken to Anakapalli Subjail for a hearing from Central Prison in Vizag on Wednesday morning. Visakha Rural Armed Reserve (AR) force constables attended as escorts.
Prabhakar was brought back to the Central Prison on the same evening. After he got down from the vehicle, his handcuffs were removed to be handed over to the jail staff. While walking towards the door of the jail, he took the chance and escaped from the area towards the social welfare hostel.
Visakha rural SP B Krishna Rao said that after he escaped, the escort team constables were suspended.
AR constables lodged a complaint at Arilova Police Station and the matter is under investigation.
