Under-trial prisoner flees police custody from hospital

An under-trial prisoner fled from Cooch Behar's MJN Hospital while in police custody.

The incident took place at around 11.30 am on Wednesday when the prisoner was taken to the hospital by police after he fell ill. While being treated at the hospital under police custody, the accused managed to flee.

At the hospital, the accused had apparently been locked inside a room with an adjacent toilet. A policeman opened the lock in order to go to the toilet. Taking the opportunity, the accused suddenly pushed him out of the way and ran out of the room.

The incident had triggered tension in the hospital premises. The accused, Jamiul Haque, a resident of Kaliachak area in Malda was arrested by the police two days ago from Sunsuni Bazaar on charges of theft. He was remanded to judicial custody after being produced in the court.

Immediately after the prisoner's escape from the hospital, the police started a search operation in the area but failed to find any trace of the fugitive.

A probe will be conducted to determine if there was any negligence on the part of the police personnel in whose custody the accused was kept.