Cuttack: Gangster Sheikh Hyder, who is serving life imprisonment in a murder case, escaped from SCB Medical College and Hospital where he was undergoing treatment on Saturday.
According to sources, Hyder sprayed santiser on 4 personnel escorting him and escaped from ward No 5 of the surgery department of the SCB Medical College.
Hyder was lodged in Sambalpur circle jail after he and seven others were sentenced to life in 2011 for killing Sheikh Chuna alias Malik Hanan, brother of gangster Sheikh Suleiman. He was transferred to Sambalpur jail from Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar due to security reasons following reports of gang war with Dhalasamanta brothers in 2017.
However, following complaint of illness, Hyder was admitted to VIMSAR in Burla for surgery of gallbladder. He was referred to SCB Medical College on March 28.
A team comprising Kendrapada and Jajpur SPs, Cuttack DCP and other senior officials has been constituted to trace Hyder, the sources said.
According to Cuttack DCP Prateek Singh, a massive search operation has been launched and neighbouring states have been alerted. He hoped that police would arrest the gangster soon.
