Taking a serious view over the death of a man in police custody at the Jagannathprasad police station in Ganjam district in June this year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed its Director General (Investigation) to probe the matter and report to it within eight weeks.
The apex human rights watchdog also has directed the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to investigate the incident and asked it to submit report within four weeks.
Gourahari Swain of Patadhar village under Jagannathprasad Police station had been picked up from his house on the night of June 8 in connection with a theft that had taken place in a nearby village. But the next morning they shifted him to the Jagannathprasad Community Health Centre (CHC) in a serious condition. He succumbed within one and a half hours after admission.
Angul-based Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain had moved the commission urging it to probe the matter fairly and a compensation of Rs50 lakh and a job to the kin of the deceased.
Notably, the State Government had transferred the Officer- in-charge of Jagannathprasad police station, Dibyalochan Behera and entrusted the Human Rights Protection Cell to investigate the case.