Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), April 7: A private attendant working in the female ward of GB Pant Hospital has been arrested for allegedly stealing a gold chain belonging to a 73-year-old woman admitted for treatment, in an incident that has raised concerns over patient safety inside the government-run healthcare facility.
Police said the theft took place in the female surgical ward, where the elderly patient had been admitted. The gold chain had reportedly been removed and kept aside before a medical examination, a routine precaution often followed in hospital settings. Investigators said the attendant allegedly took advantage of the situation and stole the jewellery without the knowledge of the patient or her caregivers.
The matter came to light soon after, following which a complaint was lodged with the police. Acting swiftly, investigators launched a probe and tracked down the accused within around two hours.
During the investigation, police found that the stolen gold chain had been pledged at a local gold mortgage outlet for about ₹1 lakh. The money obtained from the transaction was then allegedly transferred to the accused’s boyfriend living in mainland India.
Based on these leads, police not only apprehended the accused but also recovered the stolen gold chain from the mortgage shop. Efforts are now on to trace and recover the money that was allegedly transferred out.
It is not immediately clear whether police have taken any action against the person or entity that accepted the stolen gold chain.
Police have also appealed to citizens and businesses not to buy or deal in gold if its origin is unclear, warning that such transactions can complicate investigations and aid the disposal of stolen property.
The incident has raised questions over internal monitoring and the safety of vulnerable patients inside hospital wards, where many depend heavily on attendants and support staff during treatment.
Police are continuing further investigation into the case, including the financial trail and the circumstances that allowed the theft to take place within a monitored hospital environment.
