Uttar Pradesh: Murder convict gets cops drunk, escapes

A dreaded criminal and murder convict, who was serving a life sentence in two murder cases, escaped from a liquor party he had thrown for the police at a hotel in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut town, about 450 kilometre from here.

According to police sources, Badan Singh alias Baddo, who was lodged in Meerut jail, allegedly mixed some sedative in the drinks served to the police and escaped on Thursday night.

Six policemen, including an inspector, were suspended and arrested after being booked by the police in this regard.

Sources said that Badan Singh had been taken to Ghaziabad for a court appearance on Thursday. On the way back, Singh offered to throw a liquor party to the accompanying policemen to which they readily agreed.

A few accomplices of Singh also reached the hotel, where the party had been thrown.

Singh's accomplices had brought some sedatives with them which they mixed with the drinks served to the policemen.

"The cops were intoxicated to such an extent that they could barely walk when they were confronted by senior police officials several hours after the incident," said a police official in Meerut.

A massive hunt was launched to nab Singh, sources said adding that all the six policemen, who had accompanied Singh, were arrested.

"We will take stern action against them... They will be dismissed from service,'' a senior official said here on Friday.