BHUBANESWAR: A day after the alleged custodial death of a 28-year-old man at Jagannathprasad police station in Ganjam district, the Odisha Human Rights Commission on Monday directed the Collector and SP to file detailed reports on the matter.
Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the Commission has directed the district authorities to submit the reports within four weeks.
Acting chairperson Justice BK Mishra contended the reports disclose a case of custodial death due to police torture, raising questions of violation of the human rights of the deceased. The Collector and SP should file separate reports before the next date of hearing on July 13, he ordered.
Gourahari Swain of Patadhar village under Jagannathprasad Police station had been picked up from his house on the night of June 8 in connection with a theft that had taken place in a nearby village. But the next morning they shifted him to the Jagannathprasad community health centre (CHC) in a serious condition. He succumbed within one and a half hours after admission.
When the family members of the deceased reached CHC, Jagannathprasad, they found injury marks on his body. They have alleged that the police had subjected Gourahari to third degree torture, which led to his death.
Irate villagers gheraoed the police station and the hospital following his death. While the district administration released `22,000 for the family to conduct the funeral, SP, Ganjam ordered a probe into the incident. Cases have also been registered against the police officials of the Jagannathprasad police station.