The Sonagadh police arrested Salim Shaikh (22), a resident of Kali Basti in Bardoli taluka of Surat district on Sunday, for his alleged involvement in the theft of Rs 13,600 cash from a cellphone shop in Sonagadh taluka.

On Monday morning, Salim was taken out from the lockup after he complained of stomachache. He said he needed to go to the toilet. He kicked Police Station Officer (PSO) Ganpat Gamit when the latter tried to unclasp the shackles on his legs, and escaped after jumping an adjacent wall.

Gamit shouted for help, which alerted his colleagues. They chased Shaikh, but he escaped. Gamit immediately informed senior officers of the incident, including the Superintendent of Police.

Later, Gamit lodged a complaint against Shaikh with the Songadh police station.

Sonagadh police station Sub-Inspector K I Modi said they suspect Shaikh’s involvement in several other thefts that had taken place in their jurisdiction. “We had placed shackles on his legs as we believed that he might try to escape from custody. The shackles were unclasped when he went to the toilet,” Modi said.