Patna, Dec. 18: After being arrested from Calcutta in September, dreaded don of Buxar Onkar Nath Singh alias Sheru Singh told his captors, “I will not remain in prison for long.”

He proved he was serious when he escaped from Buxar civil court premises after flinging chilli powder into the eyes of security personnel and shooting at a constable on Saturday afternoon.

A police officer, who was present during the interrogation of Sheru after his arrest said the 25-year-old contract killer had warned senior police officers of the district that he would not remain confined to the four walls of the prison for long.

Taking a serious note of the warning, the police headquarters had issued instructions to the Buxar superintendent of police (SP), Daljeet Singh, to keep a close watch on Sheru during his production in the court.

The SP, in turn, had assigned the task to inspector-cum-station house officer of Buxar town police station, Nishar Ahmad. However, the slackness on the part of the police officials on court premises led to Sheru’s escape in broad daylight.

Taking a serious view of the matter, deputy inspector-general (Shahabad range) Sushil Khopde today ordered the suspension of the station house officer. Inspector S.N. Singh has been asked to replace Ahmad, who has been asked to report to the police control room with immediate effect.

“The inspector of the Buxar town police station (Ahmad) has been put under suspension with immediate effect for his negligence. He was given the task to keep a close surveillance on Sheru, who was arrested from Calcutta after much endeavour after the murder of a noted businessman of the town,” said Sushil Khopde, DIG (Shahabad range).

Sources in the police headquarters said that Daljeet Singh is at present on leave. Bhojpur superintendent of police M.R. Naik has been given the additional charge of Buxar.

Both the DIG and the acting SP visited Buxar on Saturday night and reviewed the situation.

Naik told The Telegraph that two special teams had been formed to apprehend Sheru, who dodged the police escort team on the pretext of relieving himself after his production in the court in connection with Raj Kishore Keshari murder case.

“Raids are on to arrest the escapee,” he said. Naik, however, refused to give details of the police action.

Sources said officials of Criminal Investigation Department have been asked to assist the district police in early arrest of the absconding don, who was facing charges of murders and extortion.

According to police, Sheru was involved in at least eight cases of murder in Buxar district alone.

Meanwhile, the condition of injured police constable Md Shamim Ahmed is stated to be out of danger. “He has been admitted to the Patna Medical College and hospital for further treatment,” said DIG Khopde.

Some important criminal cases pending against Sheru Singh are murder of Anil Singh, a transporter, in 2007 at Dullahpur and murder of former mukhiya (village head) Naushad in 2010 near Parari Mor. Prominent businessman Rajendra Keshari was murdered in August 2011. Sheru is the prime accused in the case.