Rourkela: The death of a 26-year-old youth allegedly in police custody triggered massive outrage after an irate mob tried to storm into Biramitrapur police station here on Thursday seeking justice.
The local residents staged a demonstration and gheraoed the police station demanding action against the erring policemen.
As per reports, the deceased youth Tariq Salim was allegedly picked by the police and brought to Biramitrapur police station for questioning in connection with a kidnapping case.
Tariq worked in a garage and was picked up by cops without any notice on Wednesday. He died under mysterious circumstances. The police is yet to reveal the exact reason behind his death, alleged locals.
“As there are injury marks on Tariq’s body, we suspect he was thrashed inside the police station,” said a protestor.
Holding placards that mentioned ‘We Want Justice’, the agitators staged a demonstration outside the police station, which subsequently forced the senior officials to rush to the spot.
“We have no idea why police picked Tariq as the officials did not inform us anything. The law and order situation has gone for a toss and the police personnel are not discharging their duties properly,” alleged another protestor.
However, Sundergarh SP Sagarika Nath refuted the allegations of custodial death. “The youth died in hospital. We had rushed him to Kuarmunda hospital after he complained of uneasiness. On advice of the doctors, we shifted him to RGH where he was declared brought dead,” said Nath.
As allegations of custodial death have come to fore, the guidelines of NHRC will be duly followed. The inquest will be video-graphed and the post mortem will be conducted by a team of doctors, Nath said.
A DSP rank officer (HRPC) will conduct a probe and we will recommend for a judicial inquiry. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, the SP assured.
(Edited By Dev Patnaik)