Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sought report from the Odisha Government in connection with the alleged custodial death of an accused in Puri town. The commission directed the Odisha Chief Secretary and DGP to submit the reports within four weeks. Earlier in the day, BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra had moved the NHRC seeking its intervention in the matter. “I visited the National Human Right Commission to complain about the custodial death of K Ramesh in Puri yesterday. I complained about the inhuman way the deceased’s parents have been picked up by the local police and are being held at some undisclosed location. The NHRC assured us help,” said Patra. In a related development, Human Rights activist Prabir Das today filed two separate petitions seeking Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) probe in the alleged custodial deaths in Puri and Sundargarh. He also urged the OHRC to direct the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to family of each deceased.
Also read- Alleged Custodial Death In Puri: Odisha HC Seeks Report From Govt.
Notably, K Ramesh (33) of Loknath Road area in Puri town died allegedly due to police excesses.
However, former Puri SP Akhileshwar Singh said that Ramesh was arrested by Baselisahi police for interrogation as he was attempting a crime in Mangalaghat area. He sustained injuries during scuffle with the cops and was admitted to the district headquarters hospital, where his condition deteriorated and he died during treatment, Singh said.
Also read- Puri SP Akhileshwar Singh Transferred.
On the other hand, Ramesh’s kin alleged that he was picked up by police from his house and died of torture by the cops. His family members further alleged that they were not allowed to see the body while police conducted the cremation instead of handing over the body to them after post-mortem.