Patnagarh wedding gift blast mastermind Punjilal throws tantrums in jail

Patnagarh: The scenes at the Patnagarh Sub-jail turned ugly today after seven dacoits tried to escape from the prison. Soon after foiling their attempt, Superintendent of the jail informed that Punjilal Meher, the sole conspirer of the sensational Patnagarh wedding gift blast case, who is also lodged at the Patnagarh Sub-Jail today, instigated the seven prisoners to escape.

The situation further went out of control when the seven dacoits, along with Punjilal and 56 other prisoners staged a dharna inside the jail. Amid all this, Punjilal allegedly snatched the mobile phone of the Superintendent after he reached to take stock of the situation. Sources said he even pushed the Jailor and Superintendent inside the jail cell and locked them up after that.

Earlier today, seven dacoits rushed to the main gate of the jail this morning and a scuffle ensued between them and the jail staff after they were intercepted. Even the jail sirens were turned on to alert others and control the situation.

Asked about the incident, Superintendent Pradipta Mahalingam said that Punjilal had been conspiring since many days demanding the jail authorities to shift him to another jail. He is the one who is instigating the prisoners.

“Seven dacoits lodged at the jail tried to escape today morning and they had rushed to the main gate of the jail. But they were obstructed by the officials and subsequently the jail alarm was also blown in order to control them,” said Mahalingam.

“Punjilal is persuading them to even skip food until the Magistrate comes. He is also manipulating them to demand transfer of some of the jail officials,” added the officer.

Meanwhile, security arrangements have been tightened in and outside the Patnagarh Sub-Jail while Punjilal has been moved to a separate cell, informed officials.

On February 23 last year, newly-wed groom Soumyasekhar and his grandmother were killed in an explosion while unwrapping a parcel sent through courier by Punjilal. Deceased Soumyasekhar’s wife Reema Sahoo had also sustained critical injuries in the incident.

Punjilal was later arrested by police on April 24, 2018.