Kin allege custodial torture, DGP seeks report

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Hundreds of angry residents attempted to storm the premises of Baranga police station in Cuttack on Friday over allegations of custodial torture of a detainee, whose condition is serious. DCP (Cuttack) Rishikesh Khilari, however, denied the allegations.The irate crowd, demanding immediate suspension of the officers involved, accused the police of shielding their own, and even claimed that an IPS officer joined in the torture of Rakesh Behera.Meanwhile, DGP Y B Khurania has sought a report from police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh on the matter. “An internal inquiry is underway. The allegations are being thoroughly investigated. If any personnel are found guilty, strict action will follow. We never endorse custodial torture,” DGP Khurania told reporters.Behera, who is in his 30s, was detained in connection with the death of a woman, whose half-buried body was recovered from Kathajodi riverbed on May 20. The case already drew attention because Behera’s wife had gone missing on May 15, prompting him to file a missing person report the following day. His family insisted that despite informing police that his wife was alive, Behera was detained and subjected to inhuman treatment.“My son was mercilessly beaten till may 23 inside the police station. Today, he is fighting for his life at SCB Medical College and Hospital. I appeal to the chief minister to ensure exemplary punishment for these unruly officers,” said his father, Kartik Behera.The Baranga police personnel claimed that the victim has a history of some underlying diseases.Villagers echoed the family’s outrage, alleging a deliberate cover-up. “The police are desperately trying to hush up the matter because a senior officer is involved. They are even offering money to the victim’s family to silence them. This is nothing but an attempt to protect their own,” said Satrughna Sahoo, an agitator.The incident has sparked tension in the area, besides political outrage with the opposition BJD and Congress demanding swift action against the Baranga police station staff.