Bhubaneswar: A man from Khordha district died on Monday after being taken into police custody following allegations of coconut theft, with his family accusing the Banpur police of custodial torture. The police have denied the allegations, maintaining that the man had already been assaulted by villagers before being rescued, and said an investigation is underway.
The deceased, identified as Tofan Nayak of Bhimpur village under the Banpur police limits, was allegedly picked up by the police on Sunday after villagers accused him of stealing coconuts. According to his family, Tofan was severely beaten inside the police station, resulting in injuries that led to his death.
“We were called by the police and told that our son was unwell and needed medical treatment. We first took him to the Banpur Community Health Centre. As his condition worsened, he was shifted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Blood was coming out of his mouth, and he was also defecating on the way. Doctors declared him dead after we reached the hospital,” Tofan’s mother alleged.
The family claimed that injury marks were visible on his body and demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident. They also sought the arrest of the police personnel and villagers allegedly involved.
According to family members, Tofan, who is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son, earned his livelihood by harvesting coconuts. On Sunday, he had reportedly gone to a villager’s house in search of work and knocked on the door. The family alleged that the residents mistook him for a child thief, tied him up, assaulted him, and later informed the police.
The death triggered protests outside the hospital, with family members and supporters accusing the police of custodial torture. The protesters demanded an impartial investigation and strict action against those found responsible.
Rejecting the allegations, Khordha Superintendent of Police Parmar Smit Parshottamdas said the police had rescued Tofan after he was assaulted by villagers over allegations of coconut theft.
“We received information that a person was being assaulted by villagers on suspicion of stealing coconuts. Police rescued him and brought him to the police station. The family was informed and later took him home after stating that he was mentally unwell. The following morning, he was taken to Banpur CHC after he started vomiting. When the attending doctor asked whether he had been assaulted, the family reportedly said he had fallen while under the influence of alcohol. We have CCTV footage and other evidence. We have nothing to hide, and the allegations made by the family will be investigated,” the SP said while speaking to a regional television channel.
He said further action would be taken after the post-mortem report is received.
The incident comes days after two other high-profile incidents of violence in Odisha—the alleged lynching of Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Soumya Ranjan Swain in Balianta and the mob assault on two persons, including a girl, in Rayagada—adding to concerns over law and order in the state.
