Kalaburagi (Karnataka): Karnataka Police on Wednesday arrested Santosh, one of the three convicted prisoners who escaped from the Kalaburagi Central Jail, after he allegedly attacked a police team attempting to apprehend him. Police said they opened fire in self-defence, injuring the accused in the leg before taking him into custody.
The dramatic arrest comes a day after Santosh, Mastan and Sagar escaped from the central prison by allegedly scaling the 15-20-foot-high compound wall using towels and mattresses after cutting the bars of their barrack.
Following the jailbreak, police constituted four special teams to track down the fugitives. During the search operation, officers received information that Santosh was hiding in the Kapanur Industrial Area on the outskirts of Kalaburagi.
According to police, Santosh allegedly attempted to attack the team when they tried to arrest him, forcing officers to open fire to bring the situation under control. He sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was taken into custody. Two police constables were also injured during the operation, officials said.
The arrest comes amid growing scrutiny over security arrangements at the Kalaburagi Central Jail after the high-profile escape triggered concerns about prison security.
Police have intensified the search for the remaining two escaped convicts, Mastan and Sagar, and said efforts are underway to apprehend them at the earliest. An investigation into the circumstances that enabled the jailbreak is also in progress.
