Three cops held for escape of criminal

CUTTACK: The sensational escape of a hardened criminal Sanjay Jena from police custody on the trial court premises on Saturday took a twist on Sunday when Commissionerate Police arrested three of its own personnel on charges of facilitating his escape. Lalbag police arrested havildar Shibananda Mallick, constable Harihar Sahoo and reserve constable Padmanav Kar. The three had been posted at the Sadar Court on escort duty for prisoners brought from  Cuttack Circle Jail, Choudwar, to the court and back. Sanjay Jena was brought to the court on Saturday along with other prisoners from the jail. While others were kept at the Court Hazat, Jena was allegedly led away by the trio and given the opportunity to flee  the crowded place. Investigations have also revealed that he was not handcuffed by the cops after he got down from the jail van. What has rankled the police more is, Jena did not have a court date on Saturday. Questions are being raised on how he was allowed to be escorted to the court without even having a trial date. According to the procedures, the court inspector gets the dates and intimates the jail authorities on the date and timing of production of a particular UTP. And then the specified UTPs are escorted by policemen on the court duty from the jail to court and back. The complicity of the three in the escape of UTP Sanjay Jena has been established. But investigations are on as to how he was allowed to be taken out by the jail authorities and officers without any intimation or summons for court production. It indicates a nexus between the unscrupulous elements in the police and jail staff. More arrests would be made in the connection, police sources said. Jena, a notorious anti-social, with criminal cases from murder to dacoity against him, was arrested on March 28.