PANAJI: The main accused in the chilling Betalbatim gangrape case and history-sheeter, Ishwar Makhwana, escaped from police custody in Panaji in the early hours of Monday. Twenty-four-year old Makhwana, who is an undertrial in the rape case that occurred in May this year, managed to flee while he was admitted at the TB Hospital in St Inez.An extensive search operation to nab the accused, who was in the custody of escort cell of Goa police at the time of escape, was still on till late Monday evening.Head constable Rajendra Tamshe and constables Ladu Raul, Sanjay Khandeparkar and Uday Naik were suspended.The police complaint, lodged by Tamshe, stated the undertrial prisoner who was lodged at Colvale jail, was admitted to bed number 19 in ward II of the TB Hospital.The complaint stated that on Monday at 5.30am, Makhwana “ran away from the legal custody of police guard team”.Makhwana, a native of Indore and accused in 50 rape cases, was booked with two others — Ram Bhatiya, 19, and Sanjeev Pal, 22, a school teacher—in May this year for assaulting a 20-year-old girl and her boyfriend at a secluded stretch of Betalbatim beach. After hitting the boyfriend, the three gangraped the girl and robbed the couple’s belongings and cash.They also later forced the couple into compromising positions, photographed them, and threatened to circulate the pictures online if they were not provided with more cash.Police had said that the trio were frequent visitors to Goa and well-versed with the isolated stretches along the beach belt. They used to rob people of cash and ornaments. However, in this case they not only robbed the victims, but also raped the 20-year-old.A chargesheet in the case was filed in July this year and the accused were in judicial custody.The incident had sparked public outcry and there was growing demand from the coastal belt for increased night patrolling.Reacting to Makwana’s escape, the AAP termed it as “yet another example of complete breakdown of the rule of law with the law and order machinery rendered headless in the chief minister’s absence”.AAP convener Elvis Gomes told reporters, “The escape of the accused is a bigger tragedy for the victim and society at large. It needs to be investigated to find out the involvement of politically influential persons, as it is being alleged that the accused had high-level political connections in a BJP-ruled state.”Makhwana is wanted by Indore police and carries a reward of Rs 50,000 on him. Police suspect Makhwana is the prime accused in the murder of a teenage couple — Shreya Joshi and Himanshi Sen — in Nakudi Kund waterfalls in Madhya Pradesh in November 2017. Police believe that Joshi was killed because she recognised Makwana, since they are from the same village. The couple’s disappearance had been a cold case for six months. Makwana was arrested, but escaped and fled to Goa.

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