AN ACCUSEDlodged in Bhopal Central Jail escaped from Hamidia Hospital on Thursday morning while still wearing handcuffs, after allegedly assaulting a prison guard posted for his security. The prisoner later fled the hospital premises on foot before being arrested by jail authorities within four hours. The accused was identified as Sohel Khan, son of Wahid Khan. He had been sent to jail on Wednesday evening under Section 151 by ACP TT Nagar Ankit Khatarkar. Police said he had previously been named in several criminal cases and had displayed aggressive and suspicious behaviour while in custody. According to jail authorities, Khan was taken to Hamidia Hospital on Thursday morning after concerns were raised about his mental condition. He was undergoing treatment in the psychiatry ward when he allegedly attacked prison guard Satish Dhakad and managed to flee from the hospital while wearing handcuffs.

 

CCTV footage from the psychiatric ward reportedly shows Khan standing in a queue along with other patients and the prison guard. He is then seen bending down, removing the handcuff and picking up his slippers. He subsequently ran towards the exit and shut the door behind him before fleeing the premises. Jail Superintendent Manvendra Singh Parihar said three teams were immediately formed to search for the accused. While attempting to escape by scaling a wall, Khan became entangled in a wire and injured his wrist. The prison guard also jumped over the wall while pursuing him and suffered a leg injury, preventing him from continuing the chase. The accused allegedly reached the Murghi Bazaar area of Jahangirabad on foot after fleeing the hospital. Search teams tracked him down and arrested him within four hours, according to the Jail Superintendent. Further investigation into the escape and security arrangements is underway.