Lucknow: In a major lapse of police duty, Shivkumar (55), an inmate of Gosainganj District Jail accused of killing his own son, escaped from Balrampur Hospital on Saturday afternoon while under police custody. The incident has sparked serious questions over police negligence.
Background of the Case
Shivkumar, a resident of Rahimnagar, was arrested by the Mahanagar Police on March 25 for allegedly killing his son with an axe. He was lodged at Gosainganj Jail, where his health began to deteriorate. He was first admitted to the jail hospital and then referred to Balrampur Hospital on May 19 due to breathing difficulties.
Escape Under Custodial Watch
On Saturday, Constable Ravindra Kumar from Dubagga Police Station and Constable Ravikant from Itaunja Police Station were assigned to guard the undertrial prisoner. Until around 12:30 PM, Shivkumar was confirmed to be in the hospital ward, according to Warder Pushpendra Verma.
At around 1:00 PM, doctors discharged Shivkumar from the hospital. As the constables were occupied with processing his discharge paperwork, the accused took advantage of their distraction and fled the hospital premises undetected.
Delayed Realization and Search Operation
Upon returning, the constables found the bed empty and Shivkumar missing. A frantic search across the hospital was initiated but yielded no clues. The matter was immediately reported to the Jail Administration and the Wazirganj Police Station, triggering a search operation by both police and jail officials. However, the escapee remains untraceable.
FIR and Disciplinary Action
Based on a complaint filed by Jailer Ritwik Priyadarshi, an FIR has been registered at Wazirganj Police Station against Shivkumar and the two constables, Ravindra Kumar and Ravikant, for negligence and aiding an escape, whether intentional or due to carelessness.
Police also raided Shivkumar’s home in Rahimnagar, but he was not found there. A report regarding the constables’ negligence has been sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for further disciplinary action.
Investigation Ongoing
Inspector Rajesh Tripathi confirmed that multiple teams have been deployed to trace the absconding accused. CCTV footage from the hospital and surrounding areas is being reviewed. Authorities have appealed to the public to report any sightings of Shivkumar.
This incident once again highlights the urgent need for strict enforcement of custodial protocols and improved coordination during prisoner medical transfers.
