Bhubaneswar: Odisha DGP Y B Khurania on Monday ordered Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) probe into the alleged custodial death of Susanta Sahu at Kabisuryanagar police station in Ganjam district.
The 32-year-old daily wage labourer died last night after allegedly being detained at the police station from May 25-31.
Based on the preliminary inquiry in the matter, Nitesh Kumar Mishra, a trainee IPS officer holding independent charge of Kabisuryanagar police station, has been withdrawn and moved to district police headquarter, Ganjam, pending further inquiry. “Ganjam SP is directed to post a suitable substitute in his place,” an official release said.
Sub-inspector (SI) Sameer Kumar Rout of Kabisuryanagar police station and assistant SI Baikuntha Jena of Balichai outpost and constable Suman Kumar Sahu have also been suspended. “Home Guard Krushna Chandra Pradhan (driver) is not to be assigned any kind of duty and Commandt HGs Ganjam is directed to start the process of disengagement from the HG organisation,” it further said.
The Ganjam SP has been further directed to transfer all other staff posted at Kabisuryanagar police station and Balichhai outpost to other police sub-division to maintain impartiality in the Inquiry. “Any further criminal or departmental action will be taken based on the outcome of further inquiry in the incident,” it added.
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Earlier speaking to the media, Susanta’s wife, Mamajini Pradhan (25), claimed that her physically challenged husband, who had gone for work and may have been involved in a verbal altercation, was severely beaten. She alleged that police inflicted blisters on his body, poured hot water on him, and rubbed chilli powder, leading to extreme suffering. She further alleged that police summoned Sushanta’s father, Khadal Sahu, and brother, Srikant Sahu, to the police station around 8.30 pm on May 31 and obtained their signatures on a blank sheet of paper before directing them to take Sushanta home. “He was handed over to me in a very poor condition,” she said, adding that the family rushed him to hospital but he succumbed to the injuries.
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Mamajini had demanded examination of CCTV footage from the police station covering the period from May 25 to May 31 and stringent action against police officer Nitish Kumar Mishra and other personnel involved in the alleged torture.
