Bargarh: A protest over alleged custodial death of a youth turned violent as police canecharged unarmed protesters in Bargarh, Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Gobind Kumbhar, 25, a resident of ward no-21 of Tora panchayat on Bargarh town’s outskirts. Family members, his wife Rubi Kumbhar and residents alleged that Town police picked up Gobind late Friday night and tortured him in the lock up.
The deceased is survived by his widow and two minor children. A youth sustained critical injuries on his head in the lathicharge and was admitted to the new DHH for treatment.
Meanwhile, DIG (North) Deepak Kumar reached Bargarh and held talks with SP Rahul Jain. ASP Dillip Kumar Bag rejected the charges stating that Gobind was an accused in an assault case lodged with Town police station.
Police, fearing that he might flee home, picked him up from his home late Friday night. He, however, fell sick Saturday and was admitted to the old district headquarters hospital (DHH) and later shifted to the new DHH where he succumbed during treatment, it was alleged.
The face-off occurred when family members of the deceased along with others reached the new DHH and ransacked the hospital premises despite presence of police.
The deceased’s brother Jiten held police responsible for the death of his brother and rushed to the terrace of the seventh floor of new DHH building and threatened to end life if justice is not meted out to them.
He climbed down only after people persuaded him not to take the extreme step. Later, the protestors swarmed Gandhi Square and staged a road blockade alleging that Gobind was tortured in police custody throughout the night that led to his death.
ASP Bag, SDPO Deepak Kumar Gochhayat and local MLA Debesh Acharya tried to placate the agitators. However, they refused to relent. Later, the protestors carrying the body staged a sit-in outside the SP office when police lathicharged them.
PNN
