Delhi Police hunts for Afghan prisoner who feigned illness, fled from AIIMS

Tihar Jail officers said the 54-year-old Afghan national was arrested three years ago under the NDPS Act for allegedly smuggling contraband. He complained of chest pain and stomachache after which he was rushed to AIIMS

For the past 72 hours, police across Delhi have been looking for an Afghan national, who escaped their custody on Saturday by allegedly feigning an illness.

At AIIMS, Javid reportedly posed as a patient or attendant and fled the room. Jail officers suspect he must have feigned his illness. (HT File Photo)

Ahmed Javid, 54, arrested three years ago for allegedly smuggling heroin from Afghanistan, complained of chest pain and stomachache and was rushed to the jail hospital on September 29 night, according to prison officials.

While the jail doctor examined the undertrial and admitted him to the hospital, he complained of uneasiness the following morning. Around 11am, he was rushed to All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in a jail ambulance, escorted by jail officials and two armed Delhi Police officers. At AIIMS, he was taken to a room teeming with other prisoners where he took advantage of the crowd and fled. Jail officers suspect he must have feigned his illness.

DCP South Ishwar Singh confirmed the prisoner’s escape and said an FIR has been registered. “Our teams are on the look-out for the man,” he said.

The two policemen have been suspended for dereliction of duty. A departmental inquiry has been ordered against the two.

The two alleged that taking advantage of the crowd at AIIMS, while the two police officers were guarding the room, Javid escaped. The police control room and the local police at the Hauz Khas police station were informed but despite the two teams searching the hospital complex, he could not be traced.

An investigating officer told Hindustan Times, “We checked the CCTV cameras but Javid was not seen. We have his photographs and will circulate it across all police stations. We have raided some of his possible hideouts but are yet to find him. The search is on.”

Jail officers said he was arrested under the NDPS Act for allegedly smuggling the contraband. He was lodged in jail 8/9 of the prison complex.