Undertrial Jumps from Court Building

BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK:A 23-year-old undertrial prisoner (UTP) of Bhubaneswar Special Jail sustained serious injuries after jumping from the first floor of Khurda District and Sessions Court here on Tuesday.

The UTP, Ashok Behera, was brought to the court for a scheduled production before the Magistrate after 15 days in judicial custody. Sources said in a bid to escape, Behera requested the police escort to go to the urinal. The police assumed that Behera, who was handcuffed, would not flee and allowed him to go alone.

Seconds after he was off surveillance, Behera climbed the sidewall of first floor and jumped down.  The escort party of Badagada Police rushed him to Capital Hospital where the doctors diagnosed the UTP with a fracture in his vertebral column. Behera was referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.