HUBBALLI: Karnataka Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) Hospital, Hubballi, is in the news again after a five-year-old boy was allegedly kidnapped by some unknown people near the hospital’s out-patient ward on Wednesday.
The boy, Mabusab Sohail Kanake of Laxmeshwar town in Gadag district, was suffering from a skin infection and had come with his parents for treatment.
KIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Shivappa Anirushetru said the boy went missing from the OPD while his parents were busy getting an OPD card. CCTV footage shows Mabusab seen going out of the OPD with another boy of the same age.
“We suspect that someone from outside might have abducted him. Usually auto drivers are found standing in that area. We will check if any of them have a role in it. The boy’s parents did not bring the issue to the notice of KIMS authorities immediately.
They searched for the boy on their own and returned to Laxmeshwar. They lodged a complaint with the Vidyanagar police only on Thursday,” said Anirushetru.
KIMS has 72 CCTV cameras, including in the lecture halls, examination centers, emergency and OPD wards and other parts. but only one camera has the boy’s image.
Police said they were yet to get any leads in the case.
This is the fourth such incident that has occurred in KIMS since 2014. The KIMS authorities have recently inducted Home Guards, apart from the private security guards, but it had not helped much.