Odisha Police Detail Failed Escape Attempts by Recaptured Prisoners Before October Jailbreak
Following the recapture of escaped prisoner Raja Sahani (33) on Thursday, authorities in Odisha have unveiled startling details about the criminal duo's previous unsuccessful attempts to flee from Choudwar circle jail. Sahani and his associate, Madhukant Rana (24), who was rearrested in February after their joint escape on October 3, 2025, had tried twice earlier to break out from the same high-security facility but were thwarted.
Background of the Accused and Initial Arrest
Both men, originally from Bihar, were arrested in Jajpur district on January 8, 2025, for allegedly murdering two individuals during an attempted robbery at a jewellery shop in Panikoili. They were subsequently transferred to Choudwar circle jail in Cuttack on February 1, 2025, and placed in separate single-occupancy cells within a high-security enclosure.
Failed Escape Attempts and Security Lapses
On March 25, 2025, Rana reportedly carved an 8 to 9-inch hole in his cell wall using a paver block. Later, on July 19, jail authorities confiscated an iron-cutting tool and a knife from him after he attempted to cut through the iron bars of his cell. In response to these incidents, jail senior superintendent Sujit Kumar Raula lodged a formal complaint on July 22, 2025, at the Choudwar police station.
"Despite warnings to tighten security measures, the duo managed to escape during the Dussehra festivities in the early hours of October 3," a senior police official stated, highlighting ongoing concerns about prison security protocols.
Nationwide Manhunt and Recapture Efforts
Police described the operation to recapture the fugitives as highly challenging. Rana was arrested on February 14 in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, while Sahani was tracked down in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, after investigators monitored his girlfriend's movements. "Our 23-member teams carried out a nationwide manhunt across at least a dozen states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Delhi, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand," said DCP Rishikesh Khilari, commending the coordinated efforts of officers from various ranks.
Criminal History and Post-Escape Activities
Police have disclosed Sahani's extensive criminal record, which involves 28 cases of theft, robbery, dacoity, and murder across multiple states. "After escaping from Choudwar jail, he robbed a jewellery store in Mysore on December 28, 2025, and attempted two more robberies near Visakhapatnam on separate dates," explained police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to dismantle the inter-state dacoity gang to which both Sahani and Rana are linked.
This case underscores significant issues in jail security and the persistent threat posed by organized crime networks, prompting calls for enhanced vigilance and reform in correctional facilities across the region.
