Odisha: Theft accused alleges police asked him to flee after his rearrest

Cuttack: Theft accused, Alok Sahu who had escaped the police custody while undergoing treatment at the Central ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital has been arrested again this afternoon.

Alok was caught by a team of police personnel from Pithapur area of Cuttack.

In a twist to the incident, Alok reportedly revealed after his arrest that police personnel on duty at the hospital asked him to flee. They even gave him Rs 50 and asked to go to his house, Alok said.

“The police personnel told me to flee the hospital as there was a pressure on them from their higher-ups. They even beat me up forcing me to escape,” said Alok adding that he had not drunk phenyl at the police station as claimed by police.

Alok was arrested by the police on January 4 on charges of stealing from a liquor shop in Raghunathpur area in Jagatsighpur. But, he had consumed phenyl kept at the police station’s toilet and became critical. Following this, the accused was admitted to the SCB hospital.

Last night he had escaped from police custody while undergoing treatment at the hospital. On the pretext to going to toilet, he had managed to run away from the hospital.