Custodial death: CM Naveen announces ex-gratia

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for family of youth who died allegedly in police custody at Ainthapali police station in Sambalpur.

While announcing ex-gratia, the CM expressed grief over the death and offered his condolences to the bereaved family.

The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), on the other hand, today sought a report from the Additional Director General of Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) on the alleged custodial death.

Based on a petition filed by rights activist Pradipta Nayak, OHRC served a notice to HRPC ADG Mahendra Pratap asking him to submit a report in three weeks.

The rights panel has scheduled the next hearing on March 6.

Speaking to the media, Nayak said, "The rights commission has directed the HRPC ADG to examine the inquest and post mortem reports of deceased Abinash Munda, and what kind of treatment he was undergoing at the Sambalpur hospital."

Family members of Munda alleged that he was beaten to death in custody while police claims that he committed suicide.

Earlier in the day locals wreaked havoc at the Ainthapali police station following Munda’s death.

The mob also torched the vehicles on the police station premises.