The Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police has been pressed into action to trace the whereabouts of four criminals, who escaped from the Mathura jail on Sunday. The STF would assist the local police which has so far drawn a blank.
The undertrials made good their escape after scaling the wall of the jail. The State Government reacted by suspending the jail superintendent, the jailor and deputy jailor. A magisterial inquiry was ordered into the incident on Sunday.
The Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order and STF ), Brij Lal, said here on Monday that the undertrials have been identified as Yogesh, Avdhesh, Ajay and Sachin. All of them are facing trial on charges of loot and murder, as well as under the relevant portions of the Gangsters' Act. Mr. Lal said the STF team reached Mathura on Sunday night and had taken over the investigation.
The senior police officer said a reward of Rs. 50,000 each had been announced on the four and a manhunt launched in Mathura, Agra and other adjoining districts.
Meanwhile, steps have been taken to strengthen the dog squad of the State police. The ADG said 104 new dogs would be purchased to augment the existing dog force. At present the U.P. police has 101 dogs with 49 sniffer dogs and 52 trackers.
The police dogs and their handlers are trained in the Border Security Force (BSF) Academy in Deccanpur, Mr. Lal said. The new dogs and their handlers would be sent to the Academy once the training slot is available, he added.
