A shocking incident of gross violation of human rights of an IITian-turned-social activist has allegedly been committed by the Jajpur Road police here on Saturday.
Satyabrata Prusty, a resident of Marthapur village of Jajpur district, was thrashed and his properties were vandalised by some drunken hoodlums of the area on Saturday. The hooligans also beat up his friends and other villagers including aged persons, women and young children whoever came there way. In the melee, many sustained serious injuries and were also admitted to a local hospital, sources said.
On being informed the police appeared on the scene and consoled the aggrieved persons. later in the evening, Satyabrata lodged an FIR at Jajpur Road police station. However, at the police station the behaviour of the police suddenly changed and they asked Satyabrata to arrange for pen and paper to give his complaint in writing. When Satyabrata suggested that usually the police register the FIR on the basis of the oral version of the complainant, arguments ensued, leading the police beating him up and subsequently arresting him on different charges including assault on police. During his detention in the lock-up, Satyabrata was mercilessly beaten by the policemen, said his wife Pranati Nayak.
Satyabrata was an alumnus of IIT, Delhi and worked in a multi-national company overseas before returning to his native village to devote his life to social work. The allegations on the basis of which he was arrested and assaulted by police are totally false and baseless, sources said, adding that his human rights have been willfully violated by the police. A petition has been submitted to the Odisha Human Rights Commission by human rights activist Dhanada Mishra, urging a fair probe into the incident and exemplary action against the police personnel involved in this ghastly act.