Mangaluru: Mangaluru City police have constituted two special teams to trace a chain-snatching accused who escaped from police custody while being escorted to the Mangaluru South police station on Friday.The absconding accused is Althaf Hussain,40, a native of Bagalkot. DCP (crime and traffic) Ravi Shankar K said that he was arrested along with Ravi Bowra,39, of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, and Mohammed Sahil Siddiq,26, of Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a chain-snatching case reported at Sooterpete on June 14.According to the DCP, Althaf allegedly pushed and assaulted a police constable before fleeing, while the three accused were being taken to the police station after their arrest. The other two accused have since been produced before a court.Police have launched an intensive search operation, including combing operations and vehicle checks at various checkpoints across the city. CCTV cameras captured Althaf escaping from custody, and investigators are using the footage to trace his movements. “The CCTV footage of the accused is also being displayed on LED screens installed under the Mangaluru Smart City project. We appeal to the public to immediately inform the police control room or the nearest police station if they spot him,” Ravi Shankar said.The DCP said the accused had targeted a woman near the Sooterpete VA Office on June 14. After approaching her on the pretext of asking for an address, they allegedly snatched her gold chain and fled. Investigation revealed that the trio had arrived in Mangaluru on June 14 and checked into a lodge. Two of them later travelled to Manjeshwar by bus, allegedly stole a motorcycle, and returned to Mangaluru on the stolen vehicle. They used the bike to snatch the chain from the woman, before escaping. They planned to flee by train from the nearest railway station after committing the crime.On Friday, Mangaluru South police noticed three men behaving suspiciously near Rosario School. During questioning, they identified themselves as cloth merchants from Mumbai, but failed to give convincing answers. Further investigation linked them to the June 14 chain-snatching incident. Police suspect the trio had returned to Mangaluru to snatch chains when they were arrested.