Odisha's Jailbreak Crisis: 44 Prisoners Escape in Five Years

Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reveals that 44 prisoners have escaped from state jails in five years. Of these, 27 are recaptured. Majhi provides disciplinary action case details and states that 86 jails house 18,176 inmates. These include 14,040 under-trial prisoners and 4,136 convicts.

Odisha is witnessing a jailbreak crisis with the state Assembly informed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi that 44 prisoners have escaped from various jails over the past five years.

According to a written response by Majhi to Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, of these escapees, 33 were under-trial prisoners and 11 were convicts. To date, authorities have managed to recapture 27 prisoners while 17 remain at large.

Highlighting the government's response, Majhi detailed the disciplinary and legal actions initiated against negligent jail officials. He also reported that the state operates 86 jails with a total capacity of 24,189 prisoners, currently housing 18,176 inmates, including a significant number of under-trial prisoners.

(With inputs from agencies.)