Bhubaneswar, March 9: The security and monitoring systems at Odisha's prisons are under intense scrutiny following the escape of 44 prisoners over the past five years. This alarming figure was disclosed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also oversees the Home Department, in response to a question raised by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous in the State Assembly on Monday.
According to CM Majhi, between 2018 and 2023, a total of 44 prisoners, including 33 under-trial prisoners (UTPs) and 11 convicts, have successfully escaped from various jails across the state. The breakdown of the escapes shows that 12 prisoners each escaped in 2022 and 2024, nine in 2021, five in 2023, and six in 2025.
However, authorities have managed to recapture 27 of these escapees, while 17 remain on the run. In light of the breaches in prison security, CM Majhi stated that several jail officials had been suspended, and departmental actions were initiated against others responsible for lapses that allowed the escapes to occur.
The escape of three UTPs from different jails in October 2025 has drawn particular ire. Among those who fled were two notorious criminals from Bihar, Madhukant Kumar alias Rana and Raja Sahani alias Subham. The duo was involved in a deadly robbery attempt at a jewelry shop in Jajpur district in January 2025, during which two men were killed. They escaped from Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack on October 2, 2025.
In a recent breakthrough, Odisha Police, in collaboration with Bihar's Special Task Force and Mathura police, managed to capture Madhukant from his hideout in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, in February 2026. Despite this success, Raja Sahani remains at large.
These incidents have intensified calls for a review of the security protocols in Odisha's prisons to prevent further breaches and ensure better monitoring of inmates.
