Bhubaneswar: Two personnel of Mahila police station in Bhubaneswar were suspended on Tuesday after an individual accused of rape absconded from custody.
According to sources, Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena ordered the action following a preliminary inquiry that established gross negligence and dereliction of duty by the cops on guard.
The accused, identified as 25-year-old Rudra Prasad Sutar, a resident of Erada village under Sabarang police limits in Bhadrak district, was arrested on July 30 in connection with allegations of rape on the false promise of marriage. He was brought to Mahila Police Station for legal formalities ahead of his scheduled court production.
The escape took place on the morning of July 31 when ASI Tilottama Prusty, who was serving as the Duty Constable Officer (DCO), briefly stepped away to use the washroom while the sentry on duty was serving breakfast to the accused. Seizing the momentary lapse in supervision, Sutar allegedly pushed the sentry aside before bolting out of the police station premises and fleeing the area.
Immediately after the incident, ASI Prusty lodged a formal complaint at the Capital Police Station, leading to the registration of a case and the launch of a manhunt. Police teams, including dedicated units and raiding squads, have been conducting searches across locations in Bhadrak and Bhubaneswar, examining CCTV footage and setting up checkpoints in efforts to re-arrest the fugitive.
The Commissionerate Police initially issued show-cause notices to the personnel present on duty. However, the subsequent inquiry confirmed clear negligence, prompting DCP Meena to suspend both the duty sentry and ASI Tilottama Prusty pending detailed departmental proceedings.
