It seems like Odisha jails have now turned into a safe haven for criminals who are either controlling crime syndicates or making prisons narcotics hubs. This was evident from the several instances of undertrial prisoners escaping and clashes among jail inmates that came to the fore from different parts of Odisha recently.
Adding to the long list, four inmates reportedly sustained injuries following a clash in high-security Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar late on Monday night.
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As per initial reports, an inmate, identified as Papu has lost one of his eyes in the alleged assault by 'Chakra' gang. Following the incident, the injured were initially treated at the jail hospital and later shifted to Capital Hospital.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chakra was nabbed by Commissionerate Police following an encounter. Though the exact reason behind the attack is unclear, it is suspected that Chakra and his associates attacked Papu Barik following some dispute over illegal narcotics trade from inside Jharpada jail.
Earlier, an explanation was also sought from the jail authorities in this regard. On March 3, an inmate fell unconscious after consumption of excess narcotics. The easy flow of narcotics inside Jharpada jail has emerged as a major concern.
Meanwhile, the Jharpada jail authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Laxmisagar Police station in connection with the incident.