A 19-year old African national, arrested for allegedly travelling without valid documents, escaped from police custody while being taken to a court here but was soon nabbed by locals today, police said.
Skalles Obei from Ethiopia, arrested last week, was being taken in a police vehicle to the court for remand extension. As the vehicle got stuck in traffic in Kadavanthra, sensing an opportunity, hand-cuffed Obei jumped off and ran away, police said.
He was later spotted hiding in a house in the neighbourhood by the locals. When they confronted him, a sobbing Obei said he had come to India to see his "dear friend" from Tanzania who is studying in Bengaluru.
He was later handed over to the police who filed another case against him for escaping from custody and produced him before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court which extended his remand.
Obei was arrested a week ago by the city police after he was found travelling without proper documents. He was lodged in Kakkanad sub-jail after being remanded to judicial custody by the CJM Court.
