The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Monday issued notices to Additional Director General of the State Crime Branch, IG (northern range), Balangir District Magistrate and Balangir SP to submit factual reports on the alleged custodial death of Basant Pradhan in Titlagarh.
The Odisha Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice Birakishore Mishra acting on a complaint filed by human rights activist Bijay Kumar Panda and Biswapriya Kanungo asked the officials to furnish reports within two weeks so that the commission can decide on the next course of action in this regard.
The commission has also asked the officials to give information on whether the family of deceased has got compensation or ex-gratia.
The two complainants alleged that prima facie evidence suggested that the death of Pradhan occurred due to excessive torture
while he was in police custody.
They demanded initiation of criminal and disciplinary proceedings against the officials involved in the crime and compensation of Rs10 lakh to the family of the deceased.
In a recent development, another youth Mohammad Billal from Titilagarh area brought a serious charge against the local police that he was taken by the cops with Basant Pradhan in the stolen mobile purchase case.
Billal said the police had taken him with Pradhan on June 10 and released them on June 15 after brutally torturing in their custody. He received internal injuries due to the assault, he complained.
When contacted, Balangir Superintendent of Police R Prakash said that investigation is on.
“Autopsy of the deceased has been conducted. After getting autopsy report, our team has started probe into the matter.”
Notably, irate mob had ransacked office of the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Titlagarh and torched police vehicles, files and documents and damaged computers and furniture demanding the arrest of policemen responsible for allegedly torturing the youth, who succumbed to his injuries on June 28, in custody.