HRPC Probe Into Ainthapalli Lock-Up Death Begins

Sambalpur: The three-member team of the Odisha Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) on Saturday began investigation into the alleged death of Abinash Munda of Bhalupalli village inside the hazat of Ainthapalli Police Station.

The team, which had arrived in Sambalpur city on Friday night, went to the Ainthapalli Police Station in the morning with a sniffer dog and a scientific team. Later it examined the height of the hazat roof from where the man had hung himself.

The team also examined the circumstances that led to the death of Munda who was detained by the police on Thursday evening in connection with a theft case.

The team also interrogated the staff of the police station for more than two hours.

Prior to visiting the police station, the team had a discussion with the Northern Range IG, Susant Nath for nearly an hour.

The team is likely to visit the Bhalupalli village and interact with the family members of the deceased.

It may be recalled that the Director General of Police (DGP) RP Sharma on Friday had asked the Additional Director General (ADG), HRPC, Mahendra Pratap to probe into the lock-up death. Acting on the directive, a three-member team of HRPC officials led by the SP left Bhubaneswar and arrived in Sambalpur on Friday night.

Following the incident, the DGP had placed IIC Srimanta Barik, Diary Charge Officer (DCO) Harishchandra Gadnayak and Sentry N Choudhury of Ainthapalli Police Station under suspension for dereliction of their duties.

Following the death of Munda on Friday night, irate people of Bhalupalli village ransacked the police station on Saturday and set it on fire. Several people and policemen were injured during clash as police tried to resist them.

However, additional police force rushed to the spot and dispersed the villagers after resorting to lathi-charge.