Betalbhatim gang rape case main accused escapes from Jail

Panaji: NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – Prime Accused under trial for gang raping a girl at Betalbhatim Beach in May this year escaped from police custody when he was brought for medical treatment in Panaji from Colvale Jail.

Iswar Makwana, one amongst the three accused being tried for the gang rape of a 20-year-old girl at Betalbhatim beach, managed to escape from T B Hospital in Panaji, where he was brought for a treatment on Monday morning, a senior police officer confirmed.

“Goa Police’s Escort Cell which is in charge of transportation of the inmates from Central Jail at Colvale had got the under-trial at TB Hospital but he managed to run away from there,” the officer said.

He said that the police have launched combing operation in and around Panaji area, and is expecting to nab him soon.

Makwana along with two others from Madhya Pradesh – Ram Bhariya and Sanjiv Pal – were arrested for gang raping a girl at Betalbhatim beach in May this year. They had also assaulted male partner of the victim before raping her in front of him.

All the three accused are tried before South Goa District and Sessions Court.

Police had told media in the past that Makwana has five cases registered against him in Indore. While in one case, he along with two other persons reportedly raped a college student and then crushed her and her male friend to death in a ditch. The crime took place in November 2017 but came to light only this year, when one of the persons involved in that case, confessed to it and hence police registered the case on May 1, 2018.