Sambit Patra moves NHRC over alleged custodial death in Puri

New Delhi: BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra today moved the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking its intervention in the alleged custodial death of an accused in Puri town.

“I visited the National Human Right Commission to complain about the custodial death of K Ramesh in Puri yesterday. I complained about the inhuman way the deceased’s parents have been picked up by the local police and are being held at some undisclosed location. The NHRC assured us help,” said Patra.

In a related development, Human Rights activist Prabir Das today filed two separate petitions seeking Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) probe in the alleged custodial deaths in Puri and Sundargarh. He also urged the OHRC to direct the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to family of each deceased.

Also read- Alleged Custodial Death In Puri: Odisha HC Seeks Report From Govt.

Notably, K Ramesh (33) of Loknath Road area in Puri town died allegedly due to police excesses.

However, Puri SP Akhileshwar Singh said that Ramesh was arrested by Baselisahi police for interrogation as he was attempting a crime in Mangalaghat area. He sustained injuries during scuffle with the cops and was admitted to the district headquarters hospital, where his condition deteriorated and he died during treatment, the SP said.

Ramesh was involved in five criminal cases across districts and was released on bail from a Talcher jail recently, the official added.

On the other hand, Ramesh’s kin alleged that he was picked up by police from his house and died of torture by the cops. His family members further alleged that they were not allowed to see the body while police conducted the cremation instead of handing over the body to them after post-mortem.

In Sundargarh, one Md Tariq Salim was detained by Birmitrapur police in connection with the kidnapping of a businessman. While his family members alleged that he died while being under police custody, SP Sagarika Nath refuted the allegation.

The accused was initially admitted to the Kuarmunda Hospital and later shifted to the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH), where he died while undergoing treatment, the SP said.