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Bolangir: Even though cops slapped a case against the prime accused in Patnagarh wedding gift blast case, Punjilal Meher for his alleged ‘jail escape bid,’ the family members today termed it as a conspiracy. Moreover, Punjilal’s advocate alleged that his client neither instigated other inmates nor tried to escape from the prison.
Under such circumstances, the jail escape theory of police has now come under scanner.
“My husband (Punjilal) is being harassed and was beaten up inside the jail. He asked the jail officials to take him to hospital but they did not listen for which he staged a hunger strike,” said Punjilal’s wife, Saudamini Meher
Earlier, it was alleged that Punjilal masterminded a failed jail break attempt along with some dacoits on January 24. After the escape-bid allegations, DIG (Prisons), Amiya Patnaik spoke to Punjilal’s advocate, Srimad Panigarhy. Moreover, Punjilal was also allowed to speak to Srimad. However, the conversations reveal a different story. The phone recordings revealed that one inmate, identified as Rabi Nag was assaulted by jail officials, to which Punjilal raised objections. Punjilal also staged a hunger strike over the matter.
The recorded conversation also revealed a voice, reportedly to be of Patnagarh sub-jail jailor, Pradip Kumar Mahalinga, saying “I have never informed media that Punjilal tried to escape from jail.”
"As Punjilal insisted to take him and Nag to the hospital, the jail authorities asked me to convince my client to call off protests," claimed Srimad, adding that the jail break story is fabricated.
“Even the jail authorities including jail DIG are saying that nobody was trying to escape. All the inmates including Punjilal were staging a hunger strike against the assault of one Rabi Nag," Srimad said.
