Bhubaneswar: Were Sambalpur Circle Jail authorities and police officers involved in a conspiracy to help gangster Sheikh Hyder escape to Telangana?
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police (CP) Saumendra Priyadarshi became visibly upset when asked this question by a journalist on Friday.
The incident occurred at a press meet by the CP on the Odisha Police operation to capture the fugitive.
Also Read: Hyder’s Flight To Capture: Here’s How Odisha Police Chased Fugitive Gangster
Priyadarshi avoided answering the question directly. Instead, he said police will seek Hyder’s remand for interrogation to get information about those involved in his escape.
Conspiracy Theories
Notably, several conspiracy theories have been doing the rounds since the gangster slipped out of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on April 10.
For instance, a day before Hyder’s capture on Thursday, former Director-General of Police (DGP) Prakash Mishra alleged that the gangster’s escape could not have been possible without the collusion of police, jail and hospital officials.
Also Read: Escape Of Gangster Hyder: Ex-Odisha DGP Smells Big Conspiracy, Questions SCB & Police Role
Also, the BJD and opposition BJP engaged in a duel over the escape. While the BJP alleged it was a “conspiracy”, the ruling party pooh-poohed it as an “unprofessional” accusation.
Also Read: Odisha BJP, BJD Trade Charges Over Hyder Escape
On Tuesday, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra claimed that some senior bureaucrats were involved in the escape of the dreaded gangster from SCB. Mohapatra further alleged that Hyder’s escape was pre-planned and carefully stage-managed, and now efforts are being made to hide the fact.
Also Read: Senior Officials Plotted To Help Gangster Hyder Escape: Odisha BJP Leader