Bhubaneswar: Days after allegations of custodial torture at Chandaka, Kabisuryanagar and Talachua Marine police stations, yet another case has emerged from Khordha district, where a family has accused Banpur police of “torturing a man to death.”
The deceased was identified as Tofan Nayak of Bhimpur village. His family alleged that police detained him on suspicion of theft and subjected him to “third-degree torture at the police station, leading to his death”. They also claimed injury marks were visible on his body.
Tofan’s wife alleged that “both police personnel and some villagers assaulted him”. The family demanded a high-level probe into the incident and sought the arrest of the police officers and villagers involved in the incident.
According to the family members, Tofan, a married man with two daughters and a son, earned a living by harvesting coconuts. On Sunday, he had gone to a villager’s house in search of work and knocked on the door. They also alleged that the residents, instead, accused him of child theft, tied him up and assaulted him.
On being informed, Banpur police reportedly rescued Tofan from the villagers and took him to the police station. They further claimed that police summoned Tofan’s mother to the station around 10 pm Sunday. When she arrived, she allegedly found Tofan unconscious.
According to the family, police then asked them to take Tofan home. Family members told police they could not take Tofan home because he was unconscious and in critical condition. Police then shifted him to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, where doctors declared him dead.
The family and supporters staged a protest at the hospital, accusing police of “beating Tofan to death, as they found injury marks on the body.” They demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and strict action against the police personnel if found responsible.
Khordha SP Parmar Smit Parshottamdas, however, refuted the allegations of torture.
“Tofan was brought to Banpur police station following a call to 112 regarding a theft. Soon afterwards, his family was informed about his detention. Tofan’s family members reached the police station and took him home after submitting a declaration stating that he was in ‘good health’. There was no third-degree torture in this case,” the SP said.
He added that further action would be taken in accordance with the autopsy report.
