Patna: A thief infected with coronavirus has become a big headache for the police in the Indian state of Jharkhand. He has infected as many as 30 policemen, prompting the sealing off of two police stations so far.
The thief was caught stealing Rs150 from a grocery shop in Hazaribagh town ten days ago after which he was made to undergo a coronavirus test. The thief tested positive and that proved to be bad news for the policemen.
In the past 10 days since his arrest, he has escaped thrice from police custody and in their efforts to nab him, scores of policemen have got infected with the virus. Panic gripped policemen as the thief threatened to touch them and spread the infection if they tried to arrest him and send him to jail.
First he escaped from the COVID-19 ward of a government hospital in Hazarighabh where he had been admitted after he tested positive. Police said the outlaw fled after breaking open an air circulation vent at the hospital. Although police caught him within an hour, it cost them dear as 29 policemen were infected in that process.
After being arrested for the second time, he was again admitted to the COVID-19 ward of the same hospital. Two days later, he again fled — this time by jumping from the window of his bathroom. Police once again arrested him after a 30-hour chase.
Under the cover of darkness
This time, police were extra alert and tried to admit him to the more secure Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Ranchi, some 100km from Hazaribagh. However, while he was being transported in an ambulance, he jumped off the ambulance under the cover of darkness.
After finding an unknown man loitering around, local villagers inquired about his identity but he threatened to get them infected with coronavirus by touching or spitting on them. The villagers soon informed the police, which rushed to the spot and arrested the thief.
“He has become a headache for us. He escaped thrice from police custody in ten days,” Hazaribagh district superintendent of police Karthik S. told the media on Saturday.
