Custodial death in Odisha, mob goes on rampage

Angry over the custodial death of a youth, protesters torched an old police station building and vehicles in Odisha's Angul district even as three police personnel including in-charge of Jarapara police station, were placed under suspension on Wednesday in connection with the incident.

A large number of people went on rampage and set afire the old Jarapara police station building and about half a dozen vehicles last evening protesting the death of Sanjay Dehury of Ughi village, Angul district Superintendent of Police Narasingh Bhol said.

The demonstrators also blocked National Highway 55 for a few hours and indulged in brick-bating. Senior police officials including the SP rushed to the spot with police reinforcements to defuse the situation.

Assistant sub-inspector of police S K Satpathy, constable Arjun Satpathy and in-charge of Jarapara police station, Harmohan Nayak was placed under suspension, the SP said.

Mob violence broke out after locals alleged that Dehury, who was picked up by police on December 31 following a complaint lodged by another youth, died in police custody after being tortured.

However, police maintained that Dehury had committed suicide. The locals refused to buy the police version and alleged that he had been tortured in the lock-up and wanted to know why the body was quickly shifted to Angul hospital without the inquest by a magistrate.

The SP denied the charge of foul play and said Dehury had not been tortured in the police station.

DIG of north central range P S Ranpise said the death will be investigated.