Post News Network
Sambalpur: A 16-year-old Scheduled Caste boy was brutally assaulted in custody by the Hirakud police over suspicions of theft, it emerged Wednesday after photographs of the incident were leaked.
Sources said the incident occurred four months back.
A driver named Balaram Khujur employed with a construction company lodged a complaint with the Hirakud police claiming that his mobile phone was stolen during the Biswakarma immersion ceremony September 18. On the basis of the complaint lodged by Balaram, police picked up the minor boy from Sweeperpada and hauled him off to the police station.
There, the police proceeded to tie the boy’s hands and legs and began assaulting him black and blue. It was later alleged that Hirakud inspector in-charge (IIC) Sabitri Bal too joined in with other police personnel in kicking and hitting the boy.
The boy was made to spend the night at the police station. When his mother approached the police the next day and pleaded with them to free her son, the police allegedly demanded Rs 8,000 to do so. The boy was released only after the woman managed to arrange Rs 6,000, sources said.
When contacted for her statement, IIC Bal termed the allegations of torture as baseless.
Surprisingly, the Hirakud police had not registered any case regarding the mobile phone theft.
Sambalpur superintendent of police Akhileswar Singh has meanwhile asked Hirakud sub-divisional police officer Abakash Routray to conduct an enquiry and submit a report within 12 hours.