44 prisoners escaped from Odisha jails in 5 years; 17 still absconding

A total of 44 prisoners have escaped from various jails across Odisha over the past five years, according to information shared in the Assembly. The details were provided by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in a written reply in the House.

The data also highlighted the current status of inmates lodged in prisons across the state, shedding light on the number of undertrial prisoners and convicts serving sentences.

Prison Population in Odisha

According to the information placed in the Assembly, Odisha currently has 86 jails housing a total of 18,176 prisoners. Among them, 14,040 are undertrial prisoners, while 4,136 inmates are serving their sentences after being convicted.

The figures underline the significant number of undertrial prisoners currently lodged in correctional facilities across the state.

Prisoners Escaped in Last Five Years

The Chief Minister informed the House that 44 prisoners have escaped from different jails in the state over the last five years. Of these, 27 have been arrested by the authorities.

However, 17 prisoners are still absconding and efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend them.