25 Years On, nine prisoners out on parole yet to return to Choudwar jail in Cuttack

Nine prisoners released on parole from Cuttack Choudwar Jail in Odisha failed to return after the expiry of their parole period and have remained absconding for the past 25 years, raising serious questions over monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

The matter came to light after the Jail authorities lodged a complaint at Choudwar police station on November 27. According to police records, the nine inmates were released on parole to visit their homes but never returned to serve the remaining period of their sentences.

Jail officials said that at the time, written intimation had been sent to the respective local police stations in the prisoners’ native areas, placing the responsibility of tracing and re-arresting the parole jumpers on the police. However, no effective follow-up action appears to have been taken over the years.

The prolonged absence of the prisoners has also raised concerns over whether all of them are still alive, officials said.

Commenting on the issue, Jail DIG Anusaya Jena said the nine prisoners had failed to return after being released on parole. 
“An FIR has now been lodged at the concerned police station, and efforts will be made to apprehend them. Missing reports had been registered earlier and have now been re-registered,” she said, adding that similar cases of parole jumpers have been reported from several jails across Odisha.