Custodial Torture: Rs 50,000 Compensation For Sisters ‘Assaulted’ By Cops In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar:  The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 each to two sisters, who were allegedly tortured in police custody on May 6, 2018.

The OHRC has also ordered for criminal prosecution against two sub-inspectors of Nayapalli police station and the then IIC, Sangram Pattnaik.

Hearing petitions filed by four people, including the victim sisters and rights activists, on Wednesday, the Commission also asked for action taken report within two months from Principal Secretary of Home department and the DGP.

“No doubt the state government has initiated departmental and criminal proceedings against the delinquent public servants. However, for the violation of human rights and the sufferings the victims underwent, the Commission considers that compensation should be awarded to them,” the OHRC said in its order.

According to sources, the two sisters of Behera Sahi were detained by Nayapalli police over a civil dispute on May 6, 2018, and later arrested.

They were allegedly assaulted by police personnel during their detention. 

After being released on interim bail, they posted pictures of police excesses on social media.

Police had then refuted the allegation and instead claimed that two woman constables were assaulted by the two sisters while they were pacifying two families following a clash over a property dispute at Behera Sahi.