BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has slapped a notice on Odisha Government asking why a compensation of `5 lakh should not be recommended for the kin of Basanta Pradhan, who died last year following torture in the custody of Balangir Police.
It has also sought to know what actions have been initiated to arrest the police officials involved in the case. The Chief Secretary has been asked to respond to the show cause notice within six weeks.
In June last year, Pradhan was held on suspicion of mobile phone theft by Balangir Police where he was subjected to torture. Two weeks later, he died, triggering unrest and violence in the Western Odisha town.
In its notice, the NHRC stated that the report submitted by Additional DGP of Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of State Police has found sufficient evidence to establish complicity of policemen in the incident.
The investigation found the allegation of custodial torture to be true against the then Inspector-In-Charge of Balangir Town Tareuqe Ahmed, SIs Anant Kumar Pradhan and Malay Kumar Panda, ASI Dilip Kumar Dang, constable Brindavan Meher and home guard Saroj Kumar Naik under Sections 120B/341/342/343/323/330/348/302/34 of the IPC. The report also said none of the accused has been arrested as they have absconded.
The human rights panel observed that the allegations made by the complainant are now admitted in the report of ADG of HRPC. “Therefore, the State is strictly liable to pay necessary compensation to the family of the deceased. The Chief Secretary is directed to response why a compensation of `5 lakh should not be recommended to be paid to the kin of the deceased within six weeks,” the notice said.
The Chief Secretary’s reply should also indicate the progress made in the arrest of the accused involved in the crime. It should also be intimated what departmental action was taken against the erring police officials, it added.
The petition for compensation was filed by rights activist Prabir Kumar Das. Last year on June 10, Pradhan, a resident of Hatapadapada in Titlagarh, was detained by Titlagarh Police in connection with a mobile phone theft case that had taken place in Balangir.
He was later handed over to Balangir Police, which released the youth from its custody five days later. However, Pradhan did not keep good health after the incident and died on June 28 prompting allegations of custodial torture.
The incident snowballed into a major law and order situation as angry locals ransacked the office of the SDPO holding police responsible for Pradhan’s death and demanded action.
