Murder Convict Bishnu Prasad Found Hanging in Choudwar Jail; Foul Play Suspected

A prisoner, serving life sentence, was found hanging from a tree within Cuttack’s Choudwar Jail premises on Saturday, raising serious suspicions of foul play.

The deceased has been identified as Bishnu Prasad Swain, a resident of Samantarapur village under the Tangia Jaripada area. He was serving a life sentence in connection with a murder case.

Returned from Parole on May 11

Bishnu Prasad was granted a 10-day parole recently to attend his mother’s post-death rituals. Following the completion of the rituals, he had returned to jail on May 11.

However, on Saturday, his body was found hanging from a tree on the prison campus, sparking concern about the circumstances of his death. 

Upon discovering him in a hanging state, jail authorities rushed him to Cuttack SCB Medical College & Hospital, where he was declared dead by the doctors.

Mental Distress Suspected:

Both jail authorities and villagers from his native place suspect that mental stress may have led to the suspected suicide. 

Bishnu had travelled to his village for his mother’s last rites, where he also met his wife, who has been living separately with her family and had come for the rituals. 

As per sources, the couple had a verbal altercation over undisclosed matters during his time in the village. The two also share a daughter, and villagers believe the disagreement may have centred around her.

Concerns over Jail Administration

Following his return to jail, Bishnu may have been deeply disturbed by the developments at home, which could have triggered the drastic decision to take his own life, said sources.

However, the incident has once again brought attention to security and monitoring inside Odisha’s correctional facilities. 

Questions are being raised how such an incident could occur without the knowledge of jail authorities, especially, since this is not the first reported case of suicide in jails across the state.