Bhubaneswar: Sandhyarani Jena, a former Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) at the Patna police station in Keonjhar district, has been barred from posting at any police station or deployment on field duties for the next two years after a an inquiry conducted by the Odisha State Human Rights Commission (OHRC) held her guilty in an alleged case of custodial torture.
The Commission also recommended the government to put Jena to training in dealing with arrestees in custody in future.
The OHRC order was passed in connection with the custodial torture of a youth by the woman police officer, the video of which had gone viral on social media in May this year.
"The Commission finds Sandhyarani Jena guilty of custodial violence and therefore, she should not be given any field duty nor be posted in any police station for a period of two years. Jena be sent for training as to how to deal with the accused persons and in the typical situations", the order passed by the Commission read.
It further stated that the Home department may take other actions as deemed fit against the officer and confirm the payment of compensation to the victim as per the previous order of the Commission in relation to the case.
Jena was suspended from duty after a video in which she was seen kicking and thrashing a youth mercilessly inside the police station went viral.
Taking cognisance of media reports, the Commission had directed the State government to pay Rs 10,000 interim compensation to the victim and recover the amount from the salary of the IIC.
According to reports, the youth, identified as Raju Mahanta of Talasarua village, was brought to the police station in connection with a land dispute. The IIC had allegedly thrashed and kicked him inside the police station before forwarding him to a court.