BHUBANESWAR/NIMAPARA : Budhadev Behera, accused of rape and serial murders, attempted to slash his throat and ended up in SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack on Monday. The 31-year-old tried to harm himself in Nimapara Sub Jail where he was lodged after his arrest by Puri Police in August.According to Sub Jailor of Nimapara Jail, Babuli Barik, the accused tried to slit his throat and wrist with a sharp instrument. He is believed to have used the mosquito coil stand.
After slashing himself, he screamed which attracted the attention of inmates and jail staff. The incident occurred between 2.30 am and 2.45 am.
He was rushed to Nimapara Community Health Centre before being shifted to Puri. Later, as his condition deteriorated, he was moved to SCB Medical at Cuttack.Police are keeping a watch on Behera because they suspect this may have been a stunt by him to get out of the prison so that he could repeat his 2012 escape act.A native of Deogarh, Behera was arrested for the first time in 2012 in connection with a murder. However, during treatment, he gave the police a slip and could not be arrested for the next five years.
He allegedly abducted and raped a 27-year-old woman in Delanga after which Puri Police went after him.
Behera is facing eight criminal cases of which five are for murder. Four of the murders have been committed in the last one year. His last victim was a 27-year-old woman whom he raped and murdered by slitting her throat in a forested patch in Delanga.The victim had separated from her husband and was staying in Andhra Pradesh where she worked as a labourer. Behera, a fugitive, was working as a labour agent and had befriended the woman.