Rape, murder convicts from Bhubaneswar Jharpada jail ‘flee’ after parole; over 50 such cases across Odisha

Serious concerns have emerged over parole monitoring in Odisha after two convicted prisoners lodged at Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar failed to return after being released on parole.

Sources reported that the incident came to light after the Orissa High Court expressed concern over a growing number of similar cases across the state.

Convicts Missing After Parole

As per reports, the two absconding prisoners have been identified as Sushil Digal of Phulbani and Ranjit Nayak of Dhenkanal.

Digal, who is serving a life sentence in a murder case, has remained untraceable for nearly one year after being released on parole. Nayak, convicted in a rape case and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, has been missing since October last year after failing to report back to Jharpada jail.

Prison officials confirmed that both inmates were granted leave as per existing parole provisions, but did not return after the expiry of the sanctioned period.

Statewide Pattern Of Non-Return

Worryingly, the Jharpada case is not an isolated incident. Data placed before the Court indicates that more than 50 prisoners across various jails in Odisha have failed to return after availing parole or temporary leave.

Taking serious note of the situation, the Orissa High Court has expressed concern over the apparent lack of accountability within the prison administration. Following the Court’s directions, the Director General of Prisons appeared in person and placed the status of parole absconders before the Bench.

The Court sought clarity on the steps taken to track down the missing convicts and the systems in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

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Search And Monitoring Measures

After the hearing, sources said efforts are underway to trace the two absconding convicts with assistance from local police in their native districts. Prison authorities have also been asked to furnish details of parole conditions, monitoring protocols, and action taken against officials responsible for follow-up in such cases.

Meanwhile, the matter now remains under judicial consideration, with the High Court continuing to monitor developments related to parole enforcement across Odisha.