An under-trial prisoner, Battula Prabhakar alias Rahul Reddy alias Bittu, escaped from police custody while he was being taken to Rajamahendravaram Central Prison, from Vijayawada.
A native of Vaddapalli village in Chittoor district, Prabhakar was arrested by Patamata police in March this year, in a theft case.
Police brought him to Vijayawada from the central jail to attend a court hearing on Monday. He escaped from police at Duddukuru village, Devarapalli mandal in East Godavari district, around midnight while being escorted back to the jail.
Three special teams have been constituted under the supervision of Armed Reserve (AR) Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police K. Koteswara Rao, said Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekara Babu on Tuesday.
“The accused was having handcuff on one of his hands and the other end was held by a constable, when he escaped from the custody,” the AR police said.
Two head constables suspended
Meanwhile, two AR head constables, K.J. Shadrak and K. Sugunakar Rao, who were escorting the under-trial prisoner, were suspended on charges of negligence.
Police announced ₹50,000 cash award to those who pass information or help to the police in arresting the escaped prisoner. Police sounded an alert in Eluru, East and West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts over the escape of the prisoner.
Persons having information on the movements of Prabhakar, may alert Devarapalli Circle Inspector by calling over Phone No.94407 96584 or the SI No.94407 96624, the police said.
Special teams launched search at bus and railway stations and at the public places to nab the escaped prisoner.
Published – September 23, 2025 02:22 pm IST
