Undertrial prisoner escapes from Odisha jail

An under-trial prisoner, allegedly involved in 40 criminal cases, escaped Tuesday by scaling the wall of a special sub-jail at Bhanjanagar in Odisha's Ganjam district, a senior police officer said.

It seems Babu Nayak escaped from the backside of the jail using a rope ladder, with help from outsiders, Senior Superintendent of Berhampur circle jail B B Patnaik said.

"Nayak, who was housed in the jail since August last year at Bhanjanagar, was wanted in at least 40 different cases, including a bank dacoity at Manitara," he said.

The details of his escape will be available only after a thorough inquiry, Patnaik said.

"We have intensified search to re-arrest Nayak," said sub divisional police officer (SDPO), Bhanjanagara, Utkal Keshari Das.

All nearby police stations have been asked to maintain a strict vigil on the movement of Nayak in their respective areas.