Youth in critical condition after police torture

Bolangir: Youth was admitted to the Bolangir hospital in a critical condition last night after he was allegedly beaten up in the police custody as part of a probe into a young woman harassment case.

The youth, identified as Trinath Behera, was allegedly thrashed by the police during a probe into the case in which the 19-year-old tribal girl was beaten up and her hair cut off by a villager in Pardhiapali under Sadar police limits in the district on March 6.

Notably, a police complaint was filed by the harassment victim against neighbour Byasa Pradhan and his family members alleging that she was forced to wear a shoe garland after her hair was cut off. Besides, the complainant had stated she was thrashed mercilessly on charges of mobile theft.