A 28-year-old man, who was an undertrial prisoner in a prohibition case, managed to escape from police custody at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Sunday night. The incident has prompted a city-wide search operation by the police.
Details of the Custody Escape
The accused, a resident of Kakarkhad village in Kheda district's Kathlal taluka, was originally arrested by Kathlal police on November 26 in connection with a prohibition case. He was subsequently lodged in Bhilodra Jail the following day to await trial.
According to Police Inspector M A Ambaliya of the Shahibaug police station, the prisoner complained of feeling unwell on Saturday. Following his request for medical treatment, jail authorities arranged for his transfer to the Civil Hospital on the same day.
The Sequence of Events Leading to the Escape
On Sunday evening, the inmate was under guard in Ward B/1 of the hospital. His security detail consisted of a Lok Rakshak and a head constable acting as a reliever. Around 6:30 PM, doctors recommended shifting him to another ward for further treatment.
The prisoner and his guards waited on a bench inside Ward E/2 while necessary paperwork was being completed. The situation took a dramatic turn at approximately 8:30 PM.
As detailed in the First Information Report (FIR) filed on Monday morning, the undertrial asked to use the washroom. When the guards accompanied him, he allegedly exploited the dense crowd of patients and their relatives present in the hospital. Seizing the opportunity, he sprinted towards an exit and vanished into the night.
The guards immediately gave chase, pursuing him through the hospital premises and into the neighbouring areas. However, the fugitive successfully disappeared into the maze of surrounding lanes, evading capture.
Police Response and Legal Action
In response to the incident, the Shahibaug police have registered a formal case. The FIR has been filed under Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for the offence of resistance or obstruction to lawful apprehension.
Police authorities have confirmed that intensive efforts to locate and apprehend the absconding inmate are currently underway. The manhunt involves multiple police teams scouring possible hideouts and following up on leads.
This escape raises serious questions about security protocols for prisoners under medical care in public hospitals and highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in crowded urban settings.
