Bhubaneswar: In a significant security breach, police recovered mobile phones, cash and narcotic substances during a surprise raid at Choudwar Circle Jail in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Friday.
Officials of the Cuttack Commissionerate Police seized three mobile phones, Rs 50,000 in cash and suspected narcotic substances from the prison premises. The items were reportedly hidden underground outside the cells, raising serious concerns over internal security lapses.
Police sources said a detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain how the contraband was smuggled into the high-security facility. The possibility of involvement of warders and other jail staff has not been ruled out.
The latest development comes months after a major security lapse at the same jail. Two undertrial prisoners (UTPs), accused in a murder case in the Panikoili area of Jajpur district, had escaped from the facility on October 2 last year. The accused had initially been lodged in a jail in Jajpur before being shifted to Choudwar.
Following the escape, two warders—Bhagat Ram and Siddhant Sahu—were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. The then jailor, Santoshini Dash, was subsequently transferred to Kantabanji Sub-Jail in Balangir district.
The Odisha Police had also announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information on the absconding prisoners. One of the escapees was later apprehended from a mutt in Vrindavan on February 14 this year, while efforts are ongoing to trace the second accused.
Authorities said further action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing probe.
