Bhubaneswar, Feb. 16: An undertrial prisoner of Jharapada jail suffered injuries after jumping off the first floor of Bhubaneswar Judicial Complex near BJB College today. 

Ashok Behera, 28, who is facing charges of sexual harassment, was rushed to Capital Hospital from where he was referred to the SCB Medical College in Cuttack.

Eyewitnesses said that Behera, who was handcuffed, jumped off the first floor window of the court complex. 

“Behera asked us to take him to the toilet. Two policemen were escorting him when he suddenly pushed them and jumped off the window,” said a cop. He was supposed to be produced before the Khurda District and Sessions Court today.

Police sources said that Behera has been in judicial custody since August 8 last year for allegedly sexually harassing a minor girl. 

“It is alleged that he sexually harassed a college student and was caught red-handed. Subsequently, he was arrested and forwarded to court,” said a cop of Khurda Town police station. Behera used to work as a mason. 

The police, however, suspect that Behera was trying to escape from the court. 

“He jumped from a height of around 15 feet and fell on the ground. He suffered injuries. His behaviour was quite normal in the jail. So, we strongly suspect that he jumped in a bid to escape,” said a police official.

It is often alleged the police are lenient towards prisoners while escorting them to the court. 

In October 2014, a criminal had escaped after being produced in a local court. 

P. Rama Rao, who had been arrested and was being taken to the court with two constables of Kharavela Nagar police station suddenly ran away.

In January this year, the police had suspended havildar Dibakar Sahu after former BJD MLA Subarna Naik was found using a mobile phone on a local court premises here. Disciplinary action had also been ordered against three constables who escorted Naik to court. 

Deputy commissioner of police, Satyabrata Bhoi said that police would conduct a probe into the incident.