HYDERABAD, May 17: A hardened criminal, Makhan son of Sharif Bhatti, escaped from police custody on Saturday from the court premises, but the district police Hyderabad managed to nab him from a bus while he was trying to flee.

According to reports, Makhan was brought from jail to the sessions court in the morning but he managed to get away from the court premises.

A spokesman of the district police said that DPO Hyderabad, Mr Najaf Mirza, directed police to see all the exit points and conduct strict checking at all the bus stands and railway station. He said that SHO Hussainabad, Mohammad Hanif Shaikh, who was checking the buses at Giddu Naka, identified the accused who was trying to get away in a bus and arrested him.

The accused is involved in crime No. 17/04 of Baldia police station, crime No. 86/06, crime No. 110/06 and crime No. 113/06 of A-section police station relating to encounter with police, murder and dacoity.

The DPO has appointed SP city to investigate how the prisoner managed to escape from police custody and take necessary action against the delinquent policemen.

SURPRISE VISITS: The District Nazim of Hyderabad, Kanwar Naveed Jamil, has directed all the mukhtiarkars and revenue officers having special judicial powers to pay surprise visits along with food inspectors of health department to fruit markets, vegetable shops and kiryana merchants to ensure that food items being sold in the market were hygienic and sold at fixed price.

He directed them that strict action should be taken against those shopkeepers who were selling rotten and unhealthy food.