In a shocking series of security lapses, two men facing grave charges related to crimes against children have managed to escape from custody in Punjab, leaving law enforcement agencies scrambling and communities on edge. The fugitives, identified as Balwinder Singh and Sonu, have been at large for weeks, with police admitting they have no concrete leads on their whereabouts, posing an active threat to the safety of children.
Dramatic Court Escape Using a Walker
The first escape occurred on September 20 at the Ludhiana court complex. Balwinder Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, was in custody under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders (Pocso) Act and faced charges of rape. During his court appearance, Singh, who had been using a walker citing an injury, executed a brazen escape. CCTV footage from the complex captured the moment he set the walker aside and sprinted down the stairs to freedom.
Balwinder Singh's legal troubles are severe. An initial First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against him on February 26 at the Daresi police station in Ludhiana. Subsequently, he was booked in another case at the Banga police station in Nawanshahr under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those pertaining to the sexual exploitation and kidnapping of a child.
Convicted Child Killer Flees Hospital
The second incident involves an even more dangerous individual. Sonu, a convicted child rapist and murderer, escaped from custody on November 12 while being taken for medical treatment. Sonu had been convicted for the brutal rape and murder of a 4-year-old girl in Ludhiana in December 2023. He had hidden the child's body in a bed box and was arrested 20 days later in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, before being lodged in Ludhiana's Central Jail.
Sonu was referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32, Chandigarh, after complaining of severe abdominal pain. He was escorted by two warders, Sukhjeet Singh and Malkit Singh, and a head constable, Lakhwinder Singh. While awaiting an X-ray examination, Sonu seized the moment when only warder Malkit Singh was with him. He pushed the warder and fled, while the other two officers were occupied with paperwork and submitting samples.
Official Probe and Public Safety Concerns
In response to the escapes, jail authorities have launched an inquiry into the negligence of the involved staff. This investigation is currently pending with the Deputy Inspector General (DIG, Prison) of the Patiala circle, Daljeet Singh Rana. Officials confirmed that FIRs have been lodged by both the Ludhiana and Chandigarh police against the escaped inmates.
Despite these procedural steps, a Ludhiana jail official conceded that "they have not been arrested yet." This admission underscores a critical failure in the custodial system. Given the severe and predatory nature of the charges against both men—specifically targeting minors—their continued freedom represents a clear and present danger. Authorities have explicitly stated that these fugitives pose an "active threat to children in the region," highlighting a grim irony where those meant to be locked up slip through systemic cracks with alarming ease.
The twin escapes have exposed glaring vulnerabilities in prisoner transport and hospital security protocols. As the search continues with little progress, the incidents have sparked public outrage and deep concern over the efficacy of the system tasked with protecting society's most vulnerable from repeat offenders.
