LAHORE, Sept 7: Wahdat Colony investigation police failed on Wednesday to arrest suspended station house officer (SHO) Hamid Mehmood who had escaped from the lock-up late on Tuesday. Hamid had been detained for releasing five alleged criminals.

Wahdat Colony circle DSP Syed Ashar Tanveer, found guilty of helping the SHO escape the police custody, secured his bail on Wednesday after a case was registered against him, the SHO and others. The DSP was ordered to report to the Lahore police headquarters.

Hamid, who was dismissed from service in 2009, was taken into custody after he allegedly released two motorcycle thieves, two car thieves and a robber in the last 15 days after receiving bribe.

A police source told Dawn that police had registered three cases involving sections of illegal detentions, help in escaping criminals and gratification against Inspector Hamid. A fourth case was registered against him for escaping police custody.

He said the SHO, who was first detained in the lock-up, was shifted to his own room in the police station with the “connivance” of the DSP from where he escaped with the help of two people whom he called through phone calls.

The source said Inspector Hamid, who was in uniform at the time of arrest, resisted his detention and kept abusing constables. He said police took constables Asim, Arshad and Yasir and a civilian identified as Ahsan Butt into custody for helping the SHO escape police custody.

However, a fourth constable identified as Asghar, and a lawyer wanted in the case were still at large, he added.

An official of the investigation wing said Inspector Hamid, who was Faisal Town investigation in charge in March 2009, was dismissed from service for grabbing looted valuables and the property of a robber who was killed in a police encounter after a shop robbery in 2009.

A case was registered against him with the Anti-Corruption Establishment and he had to face four month imprisonment.

He said efforts were being made to arrest the suspect, who had so far allegedly released several criminals.