Post News Network
Baripada, Dec 2: A day after three personnel of Baripada Town police station were suspended in connection with the alleged custodial death of a youth Chandan Das, who was arrested in a theft case, his mother Mona Das Wednesday met DIG G Upadhyay and collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil here.
She alleged before the DIG that her son had been implicated in a false case and tortured to death.
“My son has not committed any theft. He was implicated in a false case and later beaten to death. Police had not informed me about my son’s arrest but later informed about his death,” Mona told the DIG.
She also demanded immediate arrest of the policemen who had allegedly tortured Chandan to death. The investigating officer should be removed and another officer should be handed over the case, she added.
The DIG assured her that action would be taken only after completion of the probe.
Later, Mona also met the collector and brought the same allegation against police. Patil assured her that she might inform him whenever she felt any problem in the ongoing probe.
Earlier in the day, Mona along with her family members had also visited the police station where they had arguments with the SP-in-charge.
It is also alleged CCTV cameras in the police station have not been operational.
Ranjan Das, brother of the deceased, alleged CCTV cameras have been taken out. “Evidence of custodial death could have been found if CCTVs had been in operations,” he added.
According to police, a case was registered last Sunday following a complaint from Jimuta Kumar Nanda that cash and valuable ornaments were looted from his residence in Parade ground area under ward-16. Police started an investigation with a forensic team and a dog squad. Police had found a towel from the crime scene and the sniffer dog then led them to the house of Chandan in Tulasichoura area here.
Police raided various locations of the town and arrested Chandan from Sunagadia area in the afternoon Monday.
Tuesday morning, Chandan wanted to relieve himself. After getting into the toilet, he hanged himself with help of towel, police said.
Police immediately rushed him to the district headquarters hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
The police termed it a case of suicide even as the deceased’s family accused the former of torturing him to death.
Tension flared up on the hospital premises after his family along with locals alleged Chandan died because of police brutality.
A police complaint was lodged by his family in this regard.
IIC Ratikant Giri said a case of unnatural death has been registered while an investigation was started into his suicide, as per Human Rights guidelines. Sub-collector-in-charge and tehsildar Digant Routray was present at the spot as executive magistrate.
“There were torture marks on various parts of his body. ASI Umesh Nayak, ASI Bikartan Lanka and constable Diptimayee Barik were suspended while the bereaved family was provided Rs 1 lakh as compensation,” SP-in-charge, GC Mallick had said Tuesday. PNN
