Balasore Custody Escape: SP Suspends Three Cops After Accused Flees

Balasore, — In a startling breach of protocol, the prime accused in a minor girl’s abduction case escaped police custody while being transported from Andhra Pradesh to Odisha.

The accused, Sanjay Rath, had been apprehended in Andhra Pradesh, where the girl was found and rescued.

The escape occurred during a late-night stopover on the train journey back to Odisha, despite Rath being under police escort.

In response, Balasore Superintendent of Police (SP) Pratyush Diwakar suspended three officers for negligence: Assistant Sub-Inspector Deepak Kumar Bhoi, Constable Bikas Kumar Mohapatra, and Reserve Constable Suchitra Majhi.

The incident has sparked public outrage and raised serious concerns over procedural lapses in handling sensitive criminal cases.

SP Diwakar has ordered a departmental inquiry and assured that corrective measures will be implemented to prevent such failures in the future.

While the minor girl was safely returned to Odisha, the escape of the accused has cast a shadow over the operation’s success and highlighted the need for stricter enforcement protocols.