A notorious chain-snatcher Aqueeluddin alias Khalifa, who escaped from police custody at Kothapet, the 21-year-old, was allegedly involved in about 150 cases of chain-snatching. He was arrested at least three times by Hyderabad and Cyberabad police.
According to the police, Aqueeluddin was taken on a Prisoner Transit (PT) warrant from Cherlapally Central Prison to Ranga Reddy district courts at L.B. Nagar by L.B. Nagar police in a case of chain-snatching. After producing him before the court, two constables Shehkar and Upendar were taking him back to the prison, the police said.
On the way, the policemen along with Aqueeluddin stopped at a hotel in Kothapet for lunch.“The two constables told us that after having the lunch, they came out of the hotel when some associates of Aqueeluddin came to the place and used pepper spray on them. In the melee, the man escaped,” Inspector M. Ravinder Reddy, Chaitanyapuri said.
Senior officials have ordered an enquiry into the circumstances that led to his escape. Special teams have been formed to nab him.