Odisha Rights Panel Seeks Report On Custodial Torture In Keonjhar

Bhubaneswar: Taking a strong exception to physical torture of a youth by a police officer inside a police station in Keonjhar district, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Tuesday directed the district SP and the officer concerned to submit a detailed report within four weeks.

The Commission issued the order after a video of the IIC of Patana Police Station Sandhyarani Jena severely thrashing and kicking the youth went viral on social media.

The youth, Raju Mohanty of Prabhasarabha village in Saharpada block, had a land dispute with his paternal uncle. Raju had lodged a complaint at the Patana Police Station in this connection on March 25. However, the IIC called him to the police station recently and severely thrashed him with a stick and kicked with her shoes in the presence of two police officials.

Also read: Viral video: Lady Cop Thrashes Youth Inside Police Station In Odisha’s Keonjhar Dist

Following the incident, Keonjhar SP Mitrabhanu Mahapatra on Monday directed the SDPO of Ghatagan to probe into the incident and initiate action against the IIC.

The SP in a tweet said that the custodial torture will not be tolerated.

The Commission also directed the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to the youth by deducting the amount from the salary of the IIC.