Post News Network
Cuttack, August 21: Extortion calls from criminals lodged in Choudwar jail have returned after a lull to haunt traders and hoteliers of the city afresh.
A hotelier in College Square area and an industrialist in the Pilgrim Road locality reportedly received a phone call from an undertrial prisoner of the jail a few days ago asking them to pay up `5 lakh. On being informed, Malgodam police visited Choudwar jail and launched a probe to identify the caller.
Last year, a few armed youths had killed trader Farooq Tayab Ahammed in Malgodam area over an extortion incident. Investigations by police had found that the murder was planned and handled from inside Choudwar jail.
Similarly, a shopkeeper at College Square was shot dead by miscreants over extortion issues August 12, 2014. Investigations confirmed that criminals had eliminated the shopkeeper as he was opposing extortions from the locality. Malgodam police had nabbed three persons in connection with this murder. The accused were lodged in Choudwar jail after a local court rejected their bail pleas.
Sources said undertrial prisoners are making extortion calls by taking advantage of defunct CCTV cameras and a shortage of warders and security guards at Choudwar jail.
“We searched several cells of the jail after receiving information regarding the recent extortion calls. But, no mobile phone or SIM card was seized from any undertrial prisoner,” said jail superintendent Niranjan Das. Malgodam police inspector in-charge Debiprasanna Patra said, “Our personnel visited Choudwar jail and questioned a few undertrial prisoners in connection with the latest extortion calls. However, no written complaint was lodged with us in this matter”.
