Cuttack youth held over 'false' charges released from Choudwar Jail

Cuttack: Chandan Maharana, a youth of Chandni chowk area in Cuttack had an emotional reunion with his family today, nearly 11 days after he was wrongly arrested by police on false charges.

Speaking to media after his release, Chandan said that he felt mentally broken for being arrested despite innocence.

"Although I informed the Police of my innocence, they framed charges against me and forced me to do carpentry in the jail premises. I have lost my dignity due to the trial, and so will lodge a human rights case," said Chandan.

He also urged the government to provide compensation to him for loss of his self-respect and take stringent action against the erring police officials involved in the arrest.

Chandan was arrested by Lalbag Police on the basis of a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) issued against his name on charges of being involved in a 2013 loot case.

However, his family members and other local residents staged a demonstration and gheraoed Lalbagh Police Station on March 19 alleging that Chandan was being implicated on a false case since his name was similar to the accused.

As a result, police conducted a re- investigation of the case and found Chandan innocent.

Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty had clarified that Chandan's arrest was a mistake as there were similarities in his name and that of the original accused.