The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently issued notice to the SP of Jagatsinghpur to submit a report on illegal arrest and custodial torture of an innocent person under Raghunathpur police limits in November last. The apex human rights watchdog passed the order acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
The Raghunathpur police, while executing a warrant drive, had arrested Prakash Rout, son of Babaji Rout of Hurasahi village on November 25, on mistaken identity instead of arresting Subash Rout, against whom a NBW was issued. Reacting to the arbitrary and careless attitude of the police, the local villagers had later demonstrated against the act of the police in front of Raghunathpur Police Station demanding immediate release of Prakash Rout and action against the erring policemen.
The negligent act of the police amounts to serious violation of human rights, the petitioner had cited, requesting the NHRC to investigate the case and direct the Odisha police to immediately release the innocent person and pay him adequate compensation. When contacted, Jagatisnghpur SDPO Manoj Kumar Mahonta, however, stated that the alleged matter was inquired by him and it was found that the person was not an innocent. He was involved in a case under Tirtol police station but the court executed NBW to Raghunathpur police station. Though his father’s name and their address were correct but his name was written mistakenly, he said.