Did a senior UP cop help wanted Khalistani terrorist escape?
In a major embarrassment for UP, Punjab Police has alleged a senior IPS officer of the state took Rs. 45L in bribe to release Khalistani terrorist Gopi Ghanshyampura. He had in fact demanded Rs. 1cr, but settled for less. Punjab Police also reportedly claims to have audio recordings as "proof" of the alleged deal. CM Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level probe.
On November 27 last year, five men dressed as cops stormed the Nabha jail in Punjab. They fired over 100 rounds as they broke into the jail and and freed Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, Neeta Deol, Vikramjit, Amandeep Doda and Kashmir Galwaddi.
Punjab Police have alleged that Gopi, the key accused in the 2016 Nabha jailbreak, was let off by this IG-rank officer after a deal was facilitated by Sandeep Tiwari alias Pintoo, who had fought the 2012 assembly elections from Congress. The matter came to light after they arrested three alleged co-conspirators and interrogated them. They have submitted a recording of the interrogation.
Punjab Police have claimed Gopi was last seen in Shahjahanpur on September 10. The Punjab ATS was trying to trace the key accused in the jailbreak, but Gopi managed to escape.
Soon after the jailbreak, UP had been dubbed a safe haven for suspects: hours later, main conspirator Parvinder Singh was arrested from Shamli. Mintoo, the main target of the jailbreak, was arrested the next day from New Delhi Railway Station. Mastermind Gurpreet Sekhon was nabbed in February. Earlier in September, six more were arrested. Hunt is now on for Gopi and others.
