Bhopal: A person escapes from police custody every fourth day in Madhya Pradesh, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. The state has topped the country in the number of such incidents, with 89 people escaping from police custody in 2024. This is followed by Bihar and Rajasthan, which recorded 58 escapes each.
Re-arrest Rates and State Comparisons
Of the 89 individuals who escaped from police custody in Madhya Pradesh, 53 were subsequently rearrested, while 36 remain at large. This means that approximately 40 percent of the escapees have not been apprehended. In Bihar, 20 out of 58 escapees are still on the run, while in Rajasthan, 19 out of 58 have not been captured. The re-arrest rates in these states are almost identical.
Classification of Escapes
The NCRB divides escapes from police custody into two categories: those from lock-ups and those from outside lock-ups. In Madhya Pradesh, only six escapes occurred from lock-ups, while the remaining 83 took place outside lock-up facilities. This trend is consistent in Bihar and Rajasthan as well. In Bihar, 49 out of 58 escapes were from outside lock-ups, and in Rajasthan, 56 out of 58 escapes occurred outside lock-ups.
Lack of Action Against Police
Despite having the highest number of escapes, not a single case of negligence was registered against the police in Madhya Pradesh for these incidents, according to the NCRB. In contrast, Bihar and Rajasthan each registered two cases against police personnel for negligence. Nationwide, a total of 730 people escaped from police custody in 2024.
