Security Breach: Accused Escapes from Karnataka Police Station

In a shocking incident, a 24-year-old man accused under the POCSO Act escaped from a police station in Kalaburagi, Karnataka. The escape occurred during the early hours when police personnel were reportedly asleep. This breach has raised significant concerns about security protocols at the station, especially given its location in the home district of the state's Home Minister. Investigations are underway, with police forming a special team to locate the fugitive and reviewing CCTV footage to understand how the escape was possible. The incident has led to calls for accountability among the officers on duty.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 3, 2026, 12:03 IST

Major Security Lapse in Kalaburagi

Photo: IANS

Kalaburagi, July 3: A significant security breach occurred when a 24-year-old man, charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, escaped from the Afzalpur police station in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district early Friday morning. Reports suggest that he took advantage of police officers who were reportedly asleep at the time.

This incident has raised serious concerns for law enforcement, especially since it happened in the home district of Karnataka's Home Minister, Priyank Kharge.

The suspect had been detained about a week prior in relation to a POCSO case and was being held in the police station's lock-up as investigations were ongoing.

According to police reports, the case emerged after the parents of a 16-year-old girl from a nearby village filed a missing person report. Investigations revealed that the accused, a 24-year-old local man, had allegedly deceived the minor into believing he was in love with her before abducting her.

Upon receiving credible information that both the accused and the minor were located in Pune, Maharashtra, a police team from Afzalpur, along with the girl's parents, traveled to Pune and apprehended the suspect. He was returned to Afzalpur late that night, while the rescued girl was taken to Kalaburagi Government Hospital for a medical examination.

However, the accused managed to escape from custody in the early hours, reportedly by exploiting the negligence of the police. He allegedly removed his handcuffs, climbed to the second floor of the police station, grabbed a branch from a nearby neem tree, and descended before fleeing into the night.

The entire escape was recorded by CCTV cameras at the police station. Investigators have obtained the footage and are currently analyzing how the accused managed to free himself and escape from a normally secure lock-up.

In response to this incident, police have formed a special team tasked with locating the fugitive. Search operations are underway in Karnataka and neighboring states, including Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The CCTV footage of this audacious escape has heightened scrutiny regarding the security measures at the police station, prompting an investigation into the circumstances that allowed the accused to flee. Senior officials have acknowledged the seriousness of this security lapse and have indicated that disciplinary action will be taken against any officers found negligent.