Cuttack: Tension prevailed outside the Baranga police station in Cuttack district on Tuesday after villagers staged a protest alleging custodial torture of a local resident, officials said.
The protesters claimed that Rakesh Behera of Chandi Prasad village was allegedly assaulted by police personnel after he approached the police station to file a complaint regarding his missing wife.
According to officials, Behera’s wife had been missing since May 15, and a complaint was lodged the following day. On May 21, police recovered the body of an unidentified woman from the Kathajodi riverbed.
Villagers alleged that police pressured Behera to identify the body as that of his wife and physically assaulted him during questioning. Following the alleged incident, Behera was admitted to a private hospital in Cuttack for treatment.
Police later confirmed that Behera’s wife was alive and currently staying in New Delhi.
Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said the allegations made by villagers were being investigated.
“The police station premises are covered under CCTV surveillance and the footage will be examined,” the DCP said.
He added that members of the woman’s family had initially identified the recovered body based on certain belongings and other materials shown to them. However, they later informed police that the identification was mistaken after learning that the woman was alive.
Behera remains under medical treatment and his condition is stable, the officer said, adding that further investigation is underway.
