'Insider' angle in investigation ambit too

Some senior CID officers defend their colleagues in the Nicole Tamang "escape" controversy, saying there is no specific rule that bars them from keeping an accused in their camp at night. "We are also not bound to inform local police," said a CID officer. But some of his colleagues agreed that all probe agencies take the help of local police to hold an accused when the agency does not have its own lock-up.

Sources said the CID team escorting Nicole suggested to their leader, inspector Ardhendu Sekhar Pahari, that the accused be sent to the police lock-up for the night after the team returned from a day of futile raids. But Pahari personally wanted to interrogate Nicole throughout the night and sent back the district police escort team, say sources, adding that Pahari was questioning him even moments before he fled.

When Nicole wanted to relieve himself, he was sent with a CID constable to the toilet. The initial inquiry report suggest that the constable did not stand guard in front of the toilet door but went off to another part of the corridor.

CID investigators believe Nicole quietly out the main entrance of the cottage. "When he came out, there was probably no one in the corridor. He took the chance and fled," said a police officer. "It was raining hard and visibility was poor. Which is why the IRB jawans in charge of the complex did not see him," said another officer.

It was several minutes before the CID team in the interrogation room realized that Nicole had not returned. They sent another constable who found the toilet door ajar and no one inside. He raised the alarm but by then, Nicole had scaled the walls and fled.

"Senior CID officers are investigating how Nicole managed to flee. Whether it was negligence or any insider helped him to escape will be investigated," said home secretary Samar Ghosh.

Source: TOI