Times News NetworkChandigarh: An undertrial lodged in Hoshiarpur district jail allegedly escaped from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) after undergoing an endoscopy on Thursday. The prisoner allegedly complained of chest pain, pushed a jail warder and slipped out of a handcuff before fleeing from the hospital premises.The accused, identified as Anil Kumar alias Gopi, a resident of Mohalla Ravidas Nagar in Hoshiarpur, was brought to PGIMER for treatment after allegedly swallowing a blade. A case has been registered against him at Sector 11 police station on the complaint of Hoshiarpur jail warder Pardeep Singh.According to the complaint, Anil Kumar was initially taken to a local hospital after swallowing the blade and was later referred to PGIMER for further treatment. On Aug 2, three Punjab Police personnel brought him to the institute, where he was admitted.On the morning of Aug 6, doctors performed an endoscopy on him. After the procedure, he was placed on a stretcher when he allegedly complained of severe chest pain. Pardeep Singh stated that when he turned to call another warder, Satwinder Singh, the accused allegedly pushed him forcefully, slipped his hand out of the handcuff and fled from the hospital premises.Following the incident, Chandigarh Police, PGIMER security personnel and Punjab jail authorities were alerted. Police conducted searches and set up checkpoints in and around the hospital, but the accused could not be traced.Sector 11 police later registered a case on the basis of the complaint and launched a search operation. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the hospital and surrounding areas and conducting searches to trace the escaped undertrial.
