Cuttack: The state human rights protection cell (HRPC) has concluded investigations into the death of an undertrial prisoner at Sambalpur circle jail and is expected to submit the report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
In deference to an NHRC directive, human rights commission superintendent of police KC Behera had visited Sambalpur jail and investigated the circumstances leading to the death of under-trial prisoner Abhay Singh.
Behera has submitted the report to HRPC additional DG Mahendra Pratap recently. The report will soon be submitted to the apex rights body, HRPC sources said.
Notably, Singh, a resident of Palampur in Purulia district of West Bengal, had come to Sambalpur along with 27 others to sell decorative handicraft items when he was arrested by Town police on charges of stealing mobile phones. He was then taken to Ainthapalli police station and other police stations and was allegedly tortured in the custody by police.
Subsequently, police produced Singh in court and alleged that he was arrested while smuggling marijuana in Jujumura police limits. Singh had fallen sick and he was admitted to Burla Medical College and Hospital where he died June 19.
The deceased’s wife had alleged that the police brutally assaulted Singh in the custody leading to his death. Later, the family filed a petition with the NHRC over Singh’s death. Acting on the petition, the rights body directed the additional DG of HRPC to submit a report on the issue.
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