Man, 24, in isolation camp ‘escapes’ to meet girlfriend, brought back by cops

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.08 AM IST

Madurai: A 24-year-old Dubai returnee, who was sent for isolation at the Chinna Udaippu camp near the Madurai airport, escaped from there to be with his girlfriend on Wednesday night . However, cops traced him to a village near Sivaganga and brought him back . A case was registered against the youth, said police.

The man was identified as Vijay, 24, from Keelapoongudi village in Sivaganga district. He reached Madurai airport via Delhi airport recently and was found to have symptoms consistent with Covid-19. He was isolated in the camp along with eight others, police said.

As he was found missing, health officials went into panic mode on Wednesday evening. Based on a complaint from the health officials, the Avaniyapuram police traced him using his mobile number to a village near Sivaganga.

Inquiries revealed that he had gone to meet his girlfriend. As the girl’s family were against their relationship, she escaped from her house and the two met at a place. Just when they were planning to get married at a temple, the police picked him up and the girl was sent back to her family, police said.

After the incident, the kidnap complaint filed by the girl’s family was withdrawn. Police sources said that health officials from Sivaganga district have asked the family members to keep the girl in isolation for a few days.