Eight people allegedly surrounded a police jeep and forcibly took away a wanted criminal while he was being taken to a police station in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district on Wednesday, an official said.
The criminal, identified as Manoj Singh (33), having a long criminal history, was wanted in a case of murderous assault.
Kanpur's Additional Commissioner of Police Akash Kulhari said Singh had gone to a private guest house to attend a birthday party of a city office-bearer belonging to the ruling BJP.
On a tip-off, a police team reached the spot and arrested the criminal who was immediately taken to a police jeep, Mr Kulhari added.
Before the police party could leave, as many as eight persons arrived there and took Singh away from police custody and escaped from the scene.
The identities of all eight persons have been established with the help of video footage, the ACP said, while adding that a case under relevant sections of IPC is being registered.
Police teams have been formed to make early arrests of those who took the wanted criminal from police custody and stopped police from discharging their duties.
There were rumours that BJP workers surrounded the jeep and got freed a wanted criminal while being taken to the police station, said another senior official.
Additional DCP (South) Deepak Bhuker confirmed that the birthday party of a BJP city office-bearer was organised at the guest house but claimed neither the BJP leader was present there nor was he involved in the incident.
Smoke In Coach Of Uttar Pradesh Train Causes Panic Among Passengers, Glitch Promptly Resolved UP Court Orders FIR Against BJP MLA Harish Shakya On Gangrape And Fraud charges Teen Kills Mother, Stays With Body For 5 Days, Burns Incense To Mask Smell Video: Rahul Gandhi Approaches BJP MP Who Fell During Protest, This Happens People Seeking Justice For Atul Subhash Chase Rahul Gandhi. He Does This Bengaluru Techie Says She's Happier After Shifting to London, Post Is Viral Delhi Restaurant Worker Fights With Colleague, Kills Him With Dumbbell Pakistan Tries To Arm-Twist China Over Gwadar Port. The Plan Backfires. Brother Missing After Mumbai Boat Tragedy, Man Makes Rounds Of Hospitals Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.