OHRC notice to Cuttack SP on custodial deaths

Cuttack: Taking note of two custodial deaths within a span of five days in the district, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today issued notices to the In-charge SP of Cuttack rural police asking him to enquire into the matters and submit reports within four weeks.

Acting chairman of OHRC Justice (Retd) B K Mishra took cognisance of separate petitions filed by human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das with regard to police excesses leading to custodial deaths reported from Kissan Nagar and Narasinghpur areas of the district on December 7 and December 12, respectively.

Das in his petitions alleged that the Kissan Nagar police took into custody one Gunanidhi Nayak (68) on the intervening night of December 6 and 7 and Narasinghpur police arrested one Saroj Senapati (45) on the intervening night of December 9 and 10 over some allegations against them.

While Nayak died on December 7, Senapati died on December 12 allegedly due to police torture in custody, the petitions said urging the OHRC to award compensation of Rs ten lakh each to the families of both the victims.

Das in his petitions has further said that both victims were sole earning members of their respective families.