Puttur : Puttur police arrested a notorious criminal Ashraf, who had fled from the local police station after being arrested for trying to rape a minor girl at Nellikatte on September 8.
Puttur police arrest the accused from Hassan before the deadline set to give a call for a bundh by the Hindu organization.
According to police, Ashraf is said to be a drug addict and had escaped from the police earlier too. After getting information on Ashraf a team of police team had been deputed to Hassan district from Monday night.
City police inspector, B K Manjaiah, had formed three teams and search and arrests the accused in Hassan, Ramanagara, and Kasargod districts.
It is learnt that, an auto rickshaw driver Muhammed Hussain, from Mukrumpady who had helped Ashraf to escape from the police station, has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Ashraf is charged with two cases, one under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and another for absconding from the police station.
Local deputy superintendent of police, H D Mendonca, is investigating the case.
Additional superintendent of police, Shivakumar, disciplinary action will be taken against policemen for helping Ashraf to escape from the station as per the orders of the higher officials in the department.