Family members of Gobardhan Bindhani, who had died allegedly due to police excess in the Kodinga police station in Nabarangpur district on Sunday, accepted his body after intervention of Dabugam MLA Manohar Randhari on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Gobardhan’s body had reached his village in a hearse arranged by the district administration, but his relatives refused to accept it alleging that police were trying to suppress the custodial death matter. Later, they accepted the body and conducted the cremation after the MLA assured them of action against the accused.
Kodinga police had picked up 62-year-old Gobardhan from Khatiguda market over his alleged involvement in gambling. He was detained at the Kodinga police station and later taken to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) as his health condition deteriorated.
Nabarangpur ASP SN Mohanty said Gobardhan died while being shifted to Visakhapatnam from Nabarangpur for treatment. The allegation of custodial death would be investigated and necessary action would be taken against any police official found guilty, he said.
Meanwhile on Monday, DGP RP Sharma on Monday placed Puspendu Sagar, Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Kosagumuda police station in the district under suspension with immediate effect. Sgar was in additional charge of the Kodinga police station.
During the period of suspension, Sagar would remain under the disciplinary control of South Western Range DIG.