Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the
Odisha government is trying to frame the lock-up death at Ainthapalli Police Station as a case of unnatural death.
“Such incidents take place when the police forgets its duties and responsibilities and indulges in politics. Going by the Ainthapalli and Kunduli incidents, it is now certain that the Odisha Police has become blood-thirsty,” Pradhan said.
Referring to the announcement of ex gratia to the family of the deceased, he said the Chief Minister cannot bring life back to the man who died inside the police lock-up. “Since the Chief Minister is in charge of the Home Department, he is responsible for the death of the man,” he maintained.
However, refuting his allegations, BJD spokesperson Sameer Das said the BJP has the habit of targeting the Chief Minister.
Talking about the measures taken after the lock-up death, he said the state government has taken action against three police officers for dereliction of their duty. “Besides, the government has asked the Odisha Human Rights Protection Cell (OHRPC) to probe into the incident as per the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and directed the Northern Range IG, Sambalpur SP and District Magistrate to probe into the incident and submit separate reports,” he pointed out.
