NDPS accused freed from Odisha Police custody in Madhya Pradesh ambush
Synopsis
In a strikingly organised daylight ambush, armed men blocked an eight-officer Odisha Police convoy in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district, fired shots, beat the officers with bats, and drove away with an NDPS accused. The level of coordination — multiple vehicles, firearms, and reportedly chilli spray — points to a well-resourced gang, raising serious questions about narcotics networks operating across central Indian state borders.
Key Takeaways
Armed miscreants ambushed an Odisha Police convoy in Chhuhiya Valley, Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh on 29 September 2026 .
Aditya Mishra , an accused under the NDPS Act , was forcibly freed from custody and is currently at large.
Attackers used 3–4 vehicles to block the convoy, fired 2–3 rounds , and assaulted officers with baseball bats and sticks ; chilli spray was reportedly used to disorient the team.
All eight Odisha Police personnel escaped without reported injuries despite the coordinated assault.
The fleeing gang was reportedly headed towards Maihar ; a joint Sidhi-Odisha police manhunt and CCTV review are ongoing.
The region is on high alert with stepped-up vehicle checks and police deployment in Chhuhiya Valley.
An NDPS accused was forcibly freed from Odisha Police custody in a brazen daytime ambush at the Chhuhiya Valley in Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, after armed miscreants travelling in multiple vehicles intercepted the police convoy, opened fire, and assaulted the escorting officers. The attack has triggered a high alert across the region and sparked a joint manhunt involving police from both states.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Sidhi Superintendent of Police Santosh Kori, an eight-member Odisha Police team was escorting Aditya Mishra — an accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act — from Odisha to the Rewa district court for production. The incident took place in the Rampur Naikin police station area, near the Rewa-Sidhi border.
Additional Superintendent of Police Kamla Joshi said the Odisha team contacted local police at around 11.25 am after their vehicle was blocked by three to four vehicles — two from the front and one from the rear — as the convoy passed through the Chhuhiya Valley.
Weapons, Assault and the Escape
The attackers discharged two to three rounds of gunfire and assaulted the officers with baseball bats and sticks, smashing the vehicle's windows. According to some accounts, a bullet punctured a tyre, and chilli spray was reportedly used to disorient the officers. Despite the violence, no Odisha Police personnel were reported injured.
The miscreants then forced Aditya Mishra into one of their vehicles and fled the scene, reportedly heading towards Maihar. The Odisha team dialled emergency services immediately after the attack.
Police Response and Search Operation
Local police from Sidhi and nearby stations were immediately alerted and rushed to the Chhuhiya Valley. Authorities have since launched a large-scale search operation, intensified vehicle checks at multiple points, and deployed additional personnel across the valley and surrounding areas. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the route and questioning local residents for leads.
SP Kori confirmed that Sidhi police are coordinating closely with their Odisha counterparts to trace both the absconding accused and the gang that facilitated his escape. The region remains on high alert.
Significance and Context
The attack is a rare and serious instance of an organised gang ambushing an armed inter-state police escort in broad daylight. The level of planning — multiple blocking vehicles, firearms, assault weapons, and reportedly chilli spray — points to a well-coordinated operation rather than a spontaneous intervention. This comes amid broader concerns about organised narcotics networks operating across state boundaries in central India. The fact that the convoy was properly armed yet overwhelmed underscores the scale of force deployed by the attackers. Investigations are continuing jointly between the two state police forces.
Point of View
Reconnaissance, and a willingness to confront state authority directly. The multi-vehicle blockade, the mix of firearms and blunt weapons, and the reported use of chilli spray suggest prior planning that extends beyond a local support network. What mainstream coverage risks missing is the inter-state dimension: a gang capable of tracking and intercepting a cross-state police convoy points to either intelligence leaks within the system or surveillance capabilities that should unsettle both state governments. The joint investigation is a necessary step, but the deeper question — how the gang knew the convoy's route and timing — deserves as much urgency as the manhunt itself.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Sidhi NDPS custody escape case?
On 29 September 2026, armed miscreants used multiple vehicles to block an Odisha Police convoy in Chhuhiya Valley, Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh, fired shots, and beat the officers before freeing NDPS accused Aditya Mishra and fleeing towards Maihar. All eight escorting officers survived without reported injuries.
Who is Aditya Mishra in the Sidhi ambush case?
Aditya Mishra is an accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act who was being escorted by an eight-member Odisha Police team from Odisha to the Rewa district court for production when he was freed in the ambush.
How did the attackers overpower an armed police team?
According to officials, three to four vehicles blocked the convoy from both ends, and the attackers then fired two to three rounds, smashed vehicle windows, and assaulted officers with baseball bats and sticks. Chilli spray was reportedly used to disorient the personnel, giving the gang enough time to extract the accused.
What action has the police taken after the Sidhi attack?
Sidhi police have launched a large search operation, intensified vehicle checks, stepped up deployment in Chhuhiya Valley, reviewed CCTV footage from the route, and are questioning locals for leads. Sidhi and Odisha police are coordinating jointly to trace Aditya Mishra and the gang.
Where did the incident take place and why is the location significant?
The ambush occurred in Chhuhiya Valley in the Rampur Naikin police station area near the Rewa-Sidhi border in Madhya Pradesh. The area's remote, valley terrain reportedly made it a viable point for an organised interception of a cross-state police convoy.
