One of the 12 Maoists, who had been arrested on Wednesday by police, was found hanging in a bathroom on the premises of the district SP office on Thursday.
He was identified as Soma Kabasi of Jandraguda village.
Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena informed that while the police were taking the 12 Maoists to a court, Kabasi sought permission to go to the bathroom.
He went inside and did not come out for a long time. Police personnel present there got suspicious and broke open the bathroom door to find Kabasi attempting to hang himself with the help of a towel. He was rescued and rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. later, after post mortem, the body was handed over to family members of Kabasi.
“The Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) DSP has been asked to probe the matter,” Meena said.
The police had arrested the 12 Maoists after carrying out combing operations at several places in the district.