Bhubaneswar: Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania has ordered a Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) probe into the death of a 32-year-old man from Ganjam district, following allegations of custodial torture at Kabisuryanagar police station.
The deceased, Sushant Sahu of Subulia village, died on Monday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Berhampur.
His family has accused police of brutally assaulting him in custody.
According to family members, Sushant, a physically challenged daily wage labourer, was detained by police on May 25 in connection with a stone blasting case. He was allegedly kept at Kabisuryanagar police station for several days and handed over to his family on Saturday in a critical condition. He was first admitted to a hospital in Aska and later shifted to Berhampur, where he succumbed to his injuries.
His wife, Mamajin Pardhan, alleged that Sushant was picked up after a minor verbal altercation at his workplace. She claimed he was beaten severely in custody, causing blisters all over his body, and that police poured hot water on him. He was allegedly tortured for nearly a week before being released.
The incident has sparked outrage among locals, who are demanding a fair investigation into the custodial torture allegations.
