Janata Dal (United) MLA Bima Bharti's husband Awadhesh Mandal, who was arrested for allegedly threatening a witness in a murder case, escaped from the Maranga Police Station last night.
Mandal was arrested by the Purnia police on Sunday after he threatened three witnesses with dire consequences in connection with a murder that had taken place a decade ago. He is accused in more than 100 cases of murder, extortion, loot and Arms Act in Purnia and neighbouring districts.
According to the Superintendent of Police (SP), Purnia, Nishant Tiwary, Mandal is the main accused in the 2005 murder of Chanchal Paswan. The witnesses' statements are being recorded in the court.
Mandal, with ten other armed persons, reached Paswan's wife Siniya Devi's house at Paswan Tola under Khajanchi Hat police station on Sunday evening and threatened her and her children with dire consequences.
Mandal was arrested from a locality under Mirganj police station in the district. More than 40 cases are lodged against him in the Bhavanipur police station alone. He also said Awadesh had terrorised the locals under Dhamdaha subdivision so much that they never lodged any FIR against him.