‘I wanted to drink; my mind wasn’t working…’ Police Baffled by Statement of Prisoner Who Escaped on Pretext of Using Bathroom

Banda: A bizarre and astonishing incident has come to light in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, where a prisoner gave the police the excuse that he needed to urinate and then vanished into thin air. This caused a massive stir within the police department. Senior police officials were immediately alerted to the matter; SP Palash Bansal deployed three teams for a search operation, following which the police apprehended the fugitive in a forest. What is truly surprising is the explanation he gave the police during interrogation—a revelation that left the police staff utterly dumbfounded. As it turns out, the prisoner simply had a craving for alcohol; driven by his addiction, he was unable to think clearly, and thus he outwitted the police team and made his escape.

Brought to Court for a Hearing
The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Atarra Kotwali police station. A man named Chunnu—an accused in a theft case—had been brought from the Banda Divisional Jail to the Atarra court for a hearing, under police escort. A case had been registered against Chunnu in January 2026. He had been sent to jail after the stolen goods were recovered. According to the police, the accused, Chunnu, is a habitual substance abuser who would commit thefts, sell the stolen items at dirt-cheap prices, and use the proceeds to fund his alcohol and drug habits.

Escaped by Scaling a Wall
After his court hearing, as he was leaving the premises, he gave the police security team the excuse that he needed to use the bathroom; he then scaled a wall and fled the scene. When he failed to return for a considerable period, the police personnel initiated a search, but he could not be located. Consequently, the matter was reported to higher-ranking officials. The SP deployed three teams, leading to Chunnu’s eventual arrest in the dense, rugged forests within the jurisdiction of the Fatehganj police station. The police have registered a fresh case against him and have also initiated a departmental inquiry against the police team that was on duty at the time. “I just wanted to drink; my mind wasn’t functioning…”

The statement accused Chunnu gave to the police during interrogation left even the officers astonished. He revealed that he had been incarcerated since last January and, while in jail, had been unable to procure any intoxicants. During his court appearances, he had repeatedly demanded alcohol or other narcotics—demands that went unfulfilled. Consequently, his mind ceased to function properly; he could think of nothing but getting intoxicated. Driven by this obsession, he hatched a plan and made his escape under the pretext of needing to relieve himself. Immediately upon fleeing, he drank heavily, visited his in-laws’ home to indulge himself, and then fled toward the forest. Ultimately, the police apprehended him. The police stated that he could have been taken into remand during his court appearance; however, driven by his addiction, he chose to flee instead.