Second Prisoner Recaptured After Odisha Jail Escape During Durga Puja

After escaping from an Odisha jail during Durga Puja, Raja Sahani has been recaptured in Rishikesh following a dedicated police investigation.

Odisha Police on Thursday arrested an undertrial prisoner (UTP), who escaped from Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack during last year's Durga Puja celebrations, an officer said.

In a statement, Odisha DGP Y B Khurania said, "The second UTP, namely Raja Sahani, who had escaped from Choudwar Jail on October 3, 2025, has been arrested from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand."

The DGP said Sahani is being brought to Odisha on transit remand by a police team from Cuttack for further investigation.

Two undertrial prisoners, Madhukanta Kumar and Raja Sahani, both from Bihar, had escaped the high-security jail on the intervening night of October 2-3 during Durga Puja celebration last year. They were in jail after their arrest in a dacoity and murder case in Jajpur district.

Earlier, Kumar was arrested from an ashram in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, and now Sahani had been nabbed from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, a senior police official said.

Escape and Evasion Tactics

After their immediate escape, the duo had also gone to Puri for some days before being separated. It appears that they had decided to take shelter in holy places due to huge congregation of people.

Both of them had changed their attire and worked in guest houses as attendants serving devotees. Sahani has also reportedly visited Nepal before coming to Rishikesh, police said.

However, sustained tracking by the special team could trace Sahani, police said.