SHRC files suo motu case in city custodial death case

--Commission asks DCP to submit report within two weeks

BHUBANESWAR: State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Thursday filed a suo motu case in custodial death of Sanjay Das, who was caught by the Commissionerate Police in a theft case on the wee hours of Wednesday, died in a private city hospital on the day. The Commission has also asked Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjeet Singh to submit report about the matter within two weeks.

The family members of deceased Das have gheroed DCP office here demanding strong action against the culprits and justice for the family. They alleged that Das was tortured in police custody which the police rubbished. DCP Singh said that after magisterial probe the truth would come out.

After the death of the accused, DCP Nitinjeet Singh wrote to the SDJM, Bhubaneswar requesting him for a magisterial probe into the matter. Another inspector would investigate into the case in stead of the Mancheswar police to maintain impartiality and objectivity, Singh said.

On the wee hours of Wednesday, the Mancheswar police got information that a person was being mercilessly thrashed by a mob who caught him while running away with two others after committing theft of a battery from a truck. Rushing to the spot, the police Rescued Das and took him to custody. Two other persons ran away from the spot.

According to police, Das who complained of pain and had some injury on some parts of his body, he was immediately taken to the Capital Hospital for treatment. He was brought back after treatment. But after few hours, he complained of pain in his chest and the policemen shifted him to a private hospital where he died.

“Around 11 am, I received a call from the Mancheswar police about my brother’s death. His condition was better when he was in the police station, but I was stunned to know as to what happened to him after a few hours that led him to death,” said Das’s elder brother Laxman Das while victim’s father alleged that his son died due to torture in police custody.

After the alleged custodial death of Kuldeep Mohapatra in Saheed Nagar police station on June 5 and the alleged brutal thrashing of Julfikar Ali by Kharvelnagar police on June 28 followed by denials by the police, the latest incident has left the police red-faced.