A COVID-19 positive accused, who had fled from the isolation ward of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital of Jabalpur on Sunday evening, was captured from neighbouring Narsinghpur district on Monday morning.
Four cops, who were on guard duty of the accused at the hospital, has been suspended, Jabalpur inspector general (IG) of police, B.S. Chauhan told THE WEEK. An FIR of criminal conspiracy has also been lodged against two of these cops, police sources said, indicating that the cops were involved in the escape plan of the accused.
Chauhan said that the suspected involvement of the hospital staff is being probed, CCTV footage scanned and other information gathered. Action will be suitably initiated, he said.
In another development, the Jabalpur superintendent of police, Amit Singh, was also transferred by the state government on Monday and IPS officer Siddharth Bahuguna was made the new SP. Sources said that the incident of the escape of the accused was made a reason to transfer out Singh, who was considered close to the erstwhile Congress government.
Javed Khan, accused of assault on cops and health workers at Chandan Nagar of Indore earlier this month, was shifted to Jabalpur Central Jail after being slapped with the stringent National Security Act (NSA) by the Indore district administration. However, he was held in the isolation ward of the government hospital after being found COVID-19 positive.
He managed to escape on Sunday and reportedly hitched a ride in a truck to the neighbouring Narsinghpur district. He was nabbed at a check-post early on Monday morning. A reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced on him.
Chauhan told THE WEEK that Khan has been put back in the isolation ward of the hospital with enhanced security.
76 deaths, 1,485 positive cases
As on Monday afternoon, Madhya Pradesh has reported 1,485 COVID-19 positive cases and 76 deaths. The state health bulletin showed seven additions to the positive cases in Indore during past 24 hours, the tally where now stands at 897. The district reported two more deaths, taking the toll to 52. Bhopal reported 40 positive cases, taking the tally to 254 and another death, taking the toll to 7.
Central team in Indore
A central team of five officers arrived in Indore on Monday to coordinate with the state administration over the COVID-19 situation in the district. Indore, one of the biggest hotspots in the country with second highest deaths among cities, has been marked out as one of the most critical zones in the country by the central government. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted regarding arrival of the central team and expressed hope the suggestions of the team members will help the state in containing the COVID-19 situation in Indore in a better way.
