Two youths were admitted to the MV-79 health centre in critical condition on Sunday evening after they were allegedly subjected to brutality in custody at the Motu police station in Malkangiri district for four consecutive days.
However, the district Superintendent of Police (SP) has refuted the charges of any assault or brutality in police custody.
As per reports, the two youths, identified as Abhijit Biswas and Biplab Haldar, of MV-81 village under Maharajpali Panchayat in Motu Police Station area of the district have received multiple injuries on their bodies. They are having difficulties while walking.
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As per the allegations made by the youths, a kangaroo court was held at their village on Wednesday where they were accused of committing theft at a fellow villager’s house. They alleged that they were even beaten up by some village men during the kangaroo court proceedings.
The next day, the Motu Police picked them up and took to the police station where they were allegedly assaulted for four days before they were released on Sunday.
“Police took us to the police station at around 8 am on Thursday and booked us in a case. The inebriated police officials assaulted us brutally the whole night. We were beaten up for the next four days in the lock-up. On Sunday evening, an officer at the police station demanded Rs 50,000 and released us asking us to get ourselves treated. The officers demanded the money as soon as possible, failing which, he said he would torture us again. They also threatened us not to inform about the assault to anyone,” alleged one of the youths.
Another youth alleged, “We were given beatings twice daily for four days. They used sticks, rods and canes to thrash us. Though I told them that we are innocent, they did not listen and kept beating us. Later on Sunday, they demanded Rs 50,000 before releasing us,” he added.
It may be worth mentioning here that no FIR has been lodged against the duo in connection with the theft case by any villager so far.
On the other hand, officials at the Motu police station are yet to respond despite several attempts were made by OTV for reaction over the alleged incident.
However, the SP, Malkangiri claimed the two youths had been beaten up by the villagers and not by the Motu Police. “An investigation into the incident is underway,” stated the SP.