Mastermind in gangster's escape held in UP

Lucknow: A man who is alleged to have played the main role in aiding the escape of notorious gangster Amit Bhura from police custody was today arrested by the Special Task Force here, police said.

Acting on a tip off, one Robin Khokkhar who had hatched the plan of Bhura's escape from police custody was arrested from Tateeri railway station in Baghpat, IG (Administration), Prakash D told reporters here.

During interrogation, Khokkhar who also had a reward of Rs 20,000 on his head, told police that he along with his accomplice had planned the escape of Amit and on December 15 they followed him from Tateeri railway station while he was being taken to court in connection with a case, the IG said.

The gang members forcibly boarded the tempo, threw chili powder in the eyes of the policemen accompanying him and fled while firing in the air along with the weapons of the police.

The accused said that they took Bhura to Delhi via Haryana and dropped him there, the IG added.

The incident had occurred when Bhura was brought to Baghpat court from Dehradun jail in connection with a case.

Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand government have announced a case reward of Rs 5 lakh each on the arrest of Bhura.