Two undertrial prisoners escaped from the high-security Choudwar circle jail in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Friday, according to officials.
The undertrial prisoners escaped by scaling the boundary wall of the jail while the staff and other inmates were celebrating the Dussehra festival on Thursday night, officials said.
Following the incident, two prison employees were suspended for negligence of duty.
Police have identified the escapees as Raja Sahani and Madhukanta Kumar, both residents of Bihar, and announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for any information that leads to their arrest. The two men were arrested in January this year for allegedly murdering two people and looting a jewellery shop in Jajpur district.
Susanta Kumar Nath, Director General (Prisons and Correctional Services), inspected the jail to review the circumstances of the escape. He informed reporters, “On charge of negligence in duty, I have suspended a chief warder and a warder of the jail, and a case has been registered at Choudwar police station. DIG central range has been entrusted with the investigation.”
Nath added that a probe will be conducted to determine if the escapees received assistance from either jail staff or outside sources.
During the inspection, Nath found that the iron rods of the prisoners’ cells had been cut before they climbed the wall.
“They used a blanket as a rope to climb the wall,” a staff said, adding that it was suspected that the duo could manage to escape when the cultural programs were going on in the Choudwar Jail premises on Thursday night for Dussehra.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Cuttack, meanwhile, released the photographs of the fugitives, reiterating the reward.
These two persons have fled from Choudwar Jail Cuttack today at around 01.30 AM. They were last seen at around 03.00 AM in Chudakhia area of Choudwar. They might be spotted at Bus stands, Railway Station or at some other transportation locations.@odisha_police @cpbbsrctc pic.twitter.com/BpWVKSxAWZ
— DCP CUTTACK (@dcp_cuttack) October 3, 2025
The officer said in an X post: “Citizens are requested to provide information on the whereabouts of the accused. Reward: Cash of Rs 50,000 for any information leading to their arrest. Informer’s identity will remain confidential.”
