Daijiworld Media Network - Cuttack

Cuttack, Oct 4: In a major security breach, two undertrial prisoners accused of murder and loot escaped from the high-security Choudwar Jail in Cuttack district during the early hours of Friday by scaling the boundary wall, officials said.

The escapees have been identified as Raja Sahani and Chandrakant Kumar, both from Bihar. The duo was arrested for allegedly looting a jewellery store and killing two people in Jajpur district earlier this year. They had been lodged in separate high-security cells of the prison.

Sources said the incident occurred around 1:30 am, amid festive celebrations inside the jail for Dussehra. According to Director General (Prisons and Correctional Services) Susant Kumar Nath, the prisoners cut the iron rods of their cells using a saw and used blankets as ropes to scale the wall.

A massive manhunt has been launched to nab the fugitives, while two senior jail officials have been suspended for alleged negligence. Authorities are probing how the prisoners obtained saws inside the cells without detection.

“Nobody will be spared for security lapses. If any jail officials are found involved, strict action will be taken,” DG Nath said.

Cuttack police have registered a case and announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to their arrest. The duo was last seen near the Chudakhia area of Choudwar around 3 am and is suspected to be heading towards Bihar, Jharkhand, or Bengal.

The jailbreak has raised serious concerns over the security arrangements at Choudwar Jail, which houses several high-profile inmates. The state government has ordered an immediate review and strengthening of the prison’s security system.