Mangaluru: Uppinangady police arrested a 22-year-old man and recovered a stolen ambulance that had gone missing from near the Gundya check post in Dakshina Kannada district. The accused was traced and taken into custody at Hassan on December 20 following an investigation launched after the vehicle’s disappearance.
The arrested person has been identified as Shodan (22), a resident of Karkala in Udupi district. Police said the accused is a student and was travelling from Udupi towards Bengaluru when the incident occurred.
Incident occurred after bus halt near Gundya
According to the police, the accused was travelling in a bus which halted near the Gundya check post. When he stepped out briefly, the bus left before he could return. Stranded at the spot, he allegedly attempted to get a lift from passing lorries and other vehicles.
During this time, he noticed an ambulance parked nearby with the key left inside the vehicle. Police suspect that the accused, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, took the opportunity to drive away the ambulance.
Ambulance driven up to Hassan
Police said the accused drove the ambulance towards Hassan. However, due to low fuel in the vehicle, he was forced to stop midway. Based on technical inputs and coordination with the Hassan district police, Uppinangady police were able to trace his location.
After interrogation, the accused was secured at Hassan and taken into custody. The stolen ambulance was subsequently recovered and brought back as part of the investigation.
Complaint filed by ambulance driver
The case came to light after a complaint was lodged by Suresh (46), a resident of Kadaba, who works as an ambulance driver. In his complaint, Suresh stated that as part of his routine, he used to park the ambulance near the Gundya check post every night and return home.
On the night of December 19, he had parked the ambulance at the usual spot. Anticipating a possible emergency call and for the convenience of an alternate driver, he had left the key inside the vehicle. The next morning, when he went to check, he found that the ambulance was missing.
Case registered under BNS
Following the complaint, a case was registered at Uppinangady police station under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft. Police initiated an investigation immediately after receiving the complaint.
With assistance from the Hassan district police, Uppinangady police traced the accused, conducted interrogation, and recovered the stolen vehicle.
Accused produced before court
After his arrest, the accused was produced before the jurisdictional court. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances leading to the theft and to verify whether alcohol consumption played a role in the incident.
Police officials stated that the timely coordination between districts helped in the quick recovery of the ambulance, preventing misuse of an emergency vehicle meant for public service.
Conclusion
The successful recovery of the stolen ambulance has brought relief to both the ambulance service provider and local authorities. Police have reiterated the importance of securing vehicles properly, especially emergency vehicles, to avoid such incidents in the future.