Puri: An undertrial prisoner was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in a serious condition Monday after he attempted suicide at Nimapara sub-jail here late Sunday night.
The prisoner, Buddhadev Behera (31), cut his legs and hands with a sharp-edged weapon or blade. He was first rushed to Nimapara hospital and subsequently shifted to the district headquarters hospital. However, his condition deteriorated and he was shifted to SCB.
Sources said Behera, who hails from Kandheigola in Deogarh district, was arrested for raping and killing a woman inside Mangupada forest in Delang August 1. He is lodged in Nimapara sub-jail since August 17. Further, the prisoner is allegedly involved in five rape and murder cases in Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
After arresting Behera, the police described him as a sex predator. He used to befriend women, rape them and kill them to destroy evidence, the police said.
According to jail superintendent Babuli Nayak, “Jajpur police was supposed to take the accused on remand Monday. He might have created such drama to evade the remand.” Nayak has lodged a complaint with Nimapara police and a case has been registered. Meanwhile, questions are being raised on the conduct of the jail officials. Although there is a ban on taking any weapons inside the jail, it remains a question as to how the accused got hold of a sharp-edged weapon or blade inside the jail. Besides, the prisoner was under CCTV surveillance and hence it could not escaped the attention of the jail police that he was attempting suicide.
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