Sambalpur: At least 15 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in setting afire Ainthapali police station in Sambalpur district on February 9.
Police had earlier arrested 12 persons in connection with the case.
On February 9, irate villagers of Bhalupalli had set Ainthapalli police station on fire after a man allegedly committed suicide inside the lock-up the previous night.
They had also staged a road blockade near Bhalupalli village, disrupting vehicular traffic between Sambalpur and Rourkela.
Following the incident, additional police forces were rushed to the spot and they had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the villagers.
Several villagers and police personnel were injured in the clash.
According to sources, police had detained one Abinash Munda of Bhalupali village on February 8 on charges of theft and seized gold ornaments from his possession. He allegedly hang himself inside the lock-up using a bed-sheet late in the night.
Police had taken the body to Sadar Hospital where the inquest was done in the presence of a local magistrate and family members of the deceased. The body was later sent to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) for post-mortem.
However, the victim’s family members had alleged that Munda was beaten to death while in police custody.
Later, the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) took up investigation into the matter.
