Attack on prisoner sparks investigation at Jharpada jail

A remand prisoner of Jharpada Jail in Bhubaneswar suffered serious head injuries in an attack by fellow inmates, according to a senior prison official.

Additional Director General (Prisons) Amitabh Thakur and Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Anusuya Jena, who visited the jail, announced a detailed inquiry.

“Strict action will be taken against prisoners found guilty during the investigation,” Thakur said.

Cuttack DIG is currently recording statements of prisoners and jail officials and is going to submit a detailed report, Thakur added.

Deputy Inspector General Jena confirmed that the victim, Soumyakant Mohanty, reported that 12 to 15 people entered her cell on Sunday and attacked her.

Mohanty, who was treated at Capital Hospital and later discharged, accused another inmate, Munna, and his gang of orchestrating the attack. He claimed the attack was in retaliation for a letter he had recently written to the Bhubaneswar District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), exposing “unethical activities” in the jail.

After receiving his letter, DLSA members raided the prison on Saturday and confiscated cell phones and drug paraphernalia.

(Based on information from the agency.)