Bhubaneswar: Following the escape of dreaded gangster Sheikh Hyder from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Saturday evening, eyebrows are now being raised on the role of the authorities of Sambalpur Circle Jail, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla and police.
It was a fact that the authorities of the Sambalpur Circle Jail had admitted Hyder to VIMSAR on a number of occasions. But it is not yet known whether the gangster was suffering from genuine illness or the jail authorities had a soft corner towards him.
The DIG (Prison), Raj Kumar Sahu, who held the additional charge of the superintendent of the Circle Jail, is reluctant about briefing the media about the nature of Hyder’s illness and his treatment at VIMSAR. Also, there is no response from the newly appointed jail superintendent, Manoranjan Pratihari, and the mobile phone of the jailor Alok Kar is switched off.
Meanwhile, the role of the VIMSAR authorities seems to be more intriguing.
VIMSAR Director Prof Lalit Meher informed that he had no knowledge about Hyder’s admission to the hospital, the reason for his admission and the person who had referred him.
Besides, VIMSAR Superintendent Lal Mohan Nayak could not provide the details of the ward in which the gangster was admitted and the reason for shifting him to SCB in Cuttack.
Asked about the matter, Prof Brajamohan Mishra, the head of the Department of Surgery at VIMSAR, said although there was information from the SCB Hospital about shifting of Hyder for an ordinary surgery, there is no evidence of his admission in the surgery ward and his shifting to Cuttack.
He said that the gangster might have been directly referred to the SCB from the Casualty Department. However, the VIMSAR superintendent said that there is no record of any person in the name of Hyder in the Casualty Department between March 25 and April 5.
Even Prof Sunil Sharma, the head of the Department of Cardiology, maintained that although Hyder had cardiac ailments, he was not admitted to the Cardiology Ward.
The VIMSAR authorities have said that the details of Hyder will be known after thorough verification of the documents.
Also Read: Odisha Police Begin Hunt For Escaped Gangster Hyder
