Bhubaneswar: A massive public outrage has erupted in Odisha following a major twist in the alleged custodial torture of 32-year-old polio-affected daily wage labourer, Sushant Sahu, at Kabisuryanagar police station in Ganjam district and his subsequent death.
A day after his grieving family accused local police of extreme coercion, intimidation, and brutal third-degree torture, it has come to light that Sushant’s name found no mention in the original First Information Report (FIR).
According to sources, his name was missing from the online FIR registered by under-training IPS officer Nitesh Kumar Mishra, who was holding independent charge of Kabisuryanagar police station. The revelation has raised grave questions regarding police accountability and the rule of law in Ganjam district: If Sahu was not a named accused, why was he dragged to the police station and detained for a week?
This comes as a team of Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) is expected to visit Kabisuryanagar police station to investigate the matter.
Also Read: Another Case Of ‘Police Brutality’ Surfaces In Odisha, 32-Yr-Old Dies In Ganjam
Sushant died late on Sunday after being released from detention at Kabisuryanagar police station in Ganjam district, prompting the state police to initiate disciplinary action against the entire police station, including its IPS probationer inspector-in-charge, and order a high-level investigation into the case. While the IPS officer was withdrawn from duty, three other officials were placed under suspension on Monday.
Family Claims Police Coerced Statement
Srikant Sahu, the deceased’s younger brother, alleged that police forced him and his father to sign a written undertaking stating that Sushant had been taken to Kabisuryanagar police station on the morning of May 31 and released the same evening. The family had earlier claimed that he was picked up on May 25 in connection with an attack on a police team during a raid on an illegal stone quarry in the area and held in detention till May 31.
He said the family received a phone call from police on May 31 asking them to collect Sushant from the police station. When he and his father reached there around 7 pm, they were allegedly pressured to sign the undertaking. Srikant was allegedly told that failure to provide such a statement would result in Sushant being forwarded to court. Police also threatened to implicate him in the same case, Srikant further alleged.
The family alleged that Sushant was in a critical condition when handed over. “He was unable to walk, speak or breathe properly. There were injuries all over his body, particularly on his back, legs and hands. He also had blisters which appeared to have been caused by hot water,” he claimed.
Alarmed by his condition, the family immediately called an ambulance and shifted Sushant to the Community Health Centre at Aska, from where he was referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Sushant later died, triggering allegations of custodial torture and demands for a fair probe.
Ganjam SP Harish Bisi said a preliminary inquiry report has already been submitted to the HRPC, which serves as nodal agency coordinating with the state and liaising with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). He said CCTV footage from the police station would be made available to the inquiry team and assured that action would be taken against any officials found guilty.
The SP said Sushant had complained of vomiting and gastritis and had informed doctors about his condition. He maintained that police had taken him for medical examination at both Aska and Kabisuryanagar Community Health Centres.
Southern Range Inspector General of Police Niti Shekhar said the matter was being treated with utmost seriousness. He confirmed that the Ganjam SP personally visited Kabisuryanagar police station, conducted a detailed inquiry and submitted a comprehensive report to the HRPC. The postmortem report is expected shortly and is likely to play a crucial role in determining the cause of death.
