Preetam Brahma Choudhury
An undertrial priosner escape from the isolation ward of Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital in Assam Kokrajhar district this morning.
The person identified as Sukto Murmu alias Sukla, 27 years was admitted to the isolation ward of the COVID19 hospital on 24 July last after he was found to be COVID19 positive during a random swab test at the Kokrajhar district jail. The district administration in coordination with the office of Joint Director, Health Services, Kokrajhar initiated the random collection of swab in Kokrajhar district jail starting July 15 last.
Murmu who hails from Santipara under Dhaligaon police station in Chirang district was lodged at Kokrajhar district jail in connection with Dhaligaon P.S case No.112/20 u/s 376D/IPC on 15 May 2020.
According to hospital authority, a nurse at the isolation ward noticed that the iron rod of the window in the corridor in the second floor of the building which housed the COVID19 patient was broken and a cloth hanging to the window around 9 am. She immediately intimated the seniors who later informed the police.
“After breaking the widow, he probably scaled down the building with the help of the clothes and might have escaped scaling the backside wall of the hospital where there are no guards, said a senior police official adding that they will be putting policemen to guard the backside of the hospital as well.
“This is a matter of grave concern as he is not only a COVID19 positive but also an undertrial prisoner, ” he said. A manhunt is on to nab him.
Meanwhile fear of community spread of novel coronavirus loom large in Kokrajhar after 12 new COVID19 positive cases including a 4th grade employee of Kokrajhar deputy commissioner office, a pharmacist at Serfanguri bazaar and five persons from Santinagar area in Kokrajhar town without travel history were detected in the last 24 hours. Twelve (12) officials including security guards and officials in Kokrajhar jail and a doctor posted at Serfanguri public health centre without travel history were also recorded to be COVID19 positive on Monday.
The total COVID19 positive in Kokrajhar district has reached to 406 of which 249 were discharged after recovery. Present active case stands at 157.
