Sambalpur: Tension ran high after an undertrial prisoner lodged in Sambalpur circle jail suddenly fell sick and died at the district headquarters hospital Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Sambhu Swami (35) of Kamli Bazaar in the town. His family members, however, cried foul and claimed it was a case of torture in police custody.
Sambhu’s elder sister N Sita lodged a complaint in Town police station alleging her brother died as the police brutally assaulted him either in police custody or on the jail premises.
She claimed Sambhu was keeping well while in the jail. Sambhu had injury marks on face and nose with stains of blood and a cut mark visible on neck when he was admitted to the hospital.
The incident sparked tension in the hospital as locals detained the body and demanded compensation for the bereaved family and stringent action against those responsible for the death. They demanded a high-level probe into the incident.
The irate locals scuffled with the police when the latter tried to take the body to the Town police station and a stage demonstration.
SDPO Bramhananda Gagarin Mohanty, Town police station IIC Pradip Sahu, Khetrajpur IIC Manas Ranjan Pradhan and Dhanupali IIC Prakash Toppo tried to placate the agitators but in vain. The locals demanded that the collector and SP should come to the spot and discuss with them the issue.
When contacted, SP Akhilehshwar Singh said Sambhu was caught stealing in Bhwanipali village where he was beaten up by locals before being handed over to Jujumura police. He had sustained minor injuries. Later, he was produced in a court. The SP, however, rejected the charge that Sambhu was assaulted in police custody.
Jailor Susant Rout said Sambhu was remanded in jail custody August 8 when he was noticed having injuries on his face and nose. He was undergoing treatment and was regularly taking medicines.
He also refuted the charge of torture on the jail premises. Jujumura IIC also claimed the undertrial was not tortured in custody. PNN
