Students protest in front of a bus at Vani Vihar Square on Monday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: A prisoner, who was kept in the Biju Patnaik Open Air Ashram in Jamujhori on the city outskirts, was picked up by a special police squad for his alleged involvement in arms smuggling.

The prisoner, Haraprasad Sahu from Berhampur, had been staying in the open-air jail here since January this year. He had been lodged in Berhampur jail since 1999 after conviction in a murder case.

On Sunday, he had gone to a nearby market to have his breakfast. While he was returning, a four-wheeler came and stopped in front of him.

“Before we could realise anything, three persons got down from the vehicle and dragged him into it. They fled from the spot,” said Rabi Sahu, a tea kiosk owner and an eyewitness.

The jail authorities, who were informed about the incident, had alerted Chandaka police. Sources confirmed that a special squad of the city police had detained him. The police alleged that the accused had visited his home in Berhampur on parole and was involved in arms smuggling. “He is being interrogated,” said a police officer.

Haraparasad, while studying in a college in Berhampur, had allegedly killed another student, Ganesh Bisoyi, in 1999. He was lodged in the Berhampur jail. Later, the authorities there felt that his behaviour and mannerisms had improved. He was subsequently sent to the open-air jail in Bhubaneswar.

The jail authorities said that the open prison started in 2003 and 85 prisoners were staying there.

The jail staff said normally convicts who had already served half of their prison terms in other jails are sent to this open-air prison on grounds of good behaviour and conduct.