Sambalpur: A tribal youth was allegedly beaten up mercilessly by police over theft charge in Burla in Odisha's Sambalpur district. The accused was identified as Rajesh Mirdha of Sahaj Bahal village.

The matter came to the fore after the mother of the accused Subasini Mirdha alleged that her son was tortured in police custody and reported the matter to district welfare authorities with a written complaint demanding a high-level probe into the matter.

As per reports, Rajesh was nabbed by police for allegedly stealing truck battery. He was detained at Chipilima outpost where the in-charge official Gangadhar Sahu along with other police personnel beat him up mercilessly before allowing him to leave. The accused police also made him sign a hand-written letter with his signature and then released him.

On seeing Rajesh seriously injured, mother Subasini reached out to the district administration. She claimed that accused outpost in-charge ruthlessly thrashed her son leaving him seriously injured. Subasini has also demanded a high-level probe into the matter and justice for her son.

The matter is under investigation.