Panchkula theft accused escapes during hospital visit, rearrested in Chandigarh within 24 hours

The Panchkula police in Haryana on Tuesday rearrested a theft accused who had escaped from their custody while being taken to a hospital after he complained of severe ear pain.

The accused, Deepak, a resident of Chandigarh, was arrested on January 11 for allegedly stealing Rs 6,000 from a local vegetable vendor the previous day, according to Srishti Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panchkula. He was produced before a court and remanded in custody for a day.

The police said that on Monday, Deepak complained of severe ear pain, following which they took him to the General Civil Hospital in Sector-6, Panchkula, for medical treatment. However, while his police escort was purchasing medicines from the hospital’s pharmacy counter, Deepak misled him and escaped by taking a lift on a motorcycle outside the hospital premises.