Berhampur: Police have thrown up a round the clock security ring around the orthopaedic department of the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in the city as four hardcore criminals are undergoing treatment in the ward following their arrest in encounters, a report said.
Police have deployed four havildars and eight constables to keep watch on the criminals and their security. The accused undergoing treatment in the department were identified as Jai Pradhan, his siblings Sunil Jena and Krushna Jena and Ananta Kumar Machhua.
Police beefed up security in view of the fact that another hardcore criminal Babu Nayak who was earlier undergoing treatment in the hospital managed to give slip November 25 last year.
He died in an encounter with Jagannathprasad police December 25. Police were caught on the wrong foot after Babu Nayak escaped from the hospital while undergoing treatment under the close watch of police. Later, Ganjam SP Brijesh Ray suspended a havildar and for constables on charge of dereliction of duty
The havildars and constables posted in the department change shifts every two hours and keep a close watch on the criminals round the clock undergoing treatment in the ward. The police personnel are also looking after the well-being of criminals and helping them conduct their various examinations as and when prescribed by the doctors.
Sources said Digapahandi police in an encounter nabbed dreaded criminal Jai Pradhan in connection with the murder of BJD leader Bhagaban Badatya in Bamkei village under K Nuagaon police limits December 21, 2018.
Dacoit Ananta Kumar Machhua was nabbed in an encounter in connection with Badaghati dacoity case December 25. Similarly, two siblings Sunil Jena and Krushna Jena were arrested in Bahan Lenka murder case January 7.
While Sunil, Krushna and Ananta have been lodged in one of the wards of the orthopaedic department, Jai is undergoing treatment in another ward of the same department.
Three havildars and six constables have been deployed in the ward where Jena siblings and Ananta are undergoing treatment. The whole ward has been cordoned by police which has sparked fear among other patients, their attendants and relatives visiting them in intervals.
Similarly, a havildar and two constables have been deployed in the ward where Jai is undergoing treatment
PNN