Udupi: The man who stands accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old in Sagri near Manipal, escaped the police while being escorted back to jail, here on Sunday, March 31.
The accused, Hanumanthappa (30) was arrested on Friday, March 29, by the police in connection with rape and murder of a minor girl. On Sunday, the Manipal police produced him before the judge at the latter’s house and remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.
While on the way to Hiriyadka jail, it is said that Hanumanthappa escaped from the Hoysala vehicle and ran into the woods.
The Manipal and Hiriyadka police immediately launched a manhunt for Hanumanthappa.
The accused was working in a shop in Udupi when he raped a minor girl at Sagri, near Manipal on March 9. He had allegedly befriended the victim and promised to give her a better job. Later, he allegedly took the girl to a wooded area and raped her. When she threatened to complain to her parents, Hanumanappa allegedly murdered her.
