Theft case suspect kills constable for foiling his escape attempt

A man arrested on charges of theft killed a police constable when the latter tried to foil his attempt to escape from custody at Haldwani in Nainital district.

The incident occurred at Mukhani Police Station in Haldwani late on Tuesday night when Rajendra Arya, who had been arrested on charges of stealing a scooty a few days back, tried to escape from custody, police said in Dehradun on Thursday.

Constable Surendra Singh, who was on duty at the time, overpowered the accused who lifted a sharp-edged iron rod lying nearby and allegedly stabbed him in the chest several times.

Though bleeding profusely, Singh did not let go of the accused till his last breath. After hearing the noise SHO Lalit Joshi and other policemen arrived at the police station and captured Arya.

The constable, who was the youngest brother of India Reserve Battalion Commandant Vimla Gunjyal, was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the slain constable.