Rourkela: A police sub-inspector (PSI) from the Udit Nagar police station in the city was suspended from duty on Wednesday for allegedly torturing a minor boy who he had picked up for questioning in connection with a mobile theft case.
According to reports, the minor, who is an orphan and lives with his grandmother in Timber Colony of Rourkela, had allegedly been beaten up and administered electric shock in police custody during interrogation in connection with the mobile phone theft case.
Taking suo moto cognisance of media reports about the alleged brutality perpetrated on the boy by the man in Khaki, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) had issued notice to the Rourkela SP instructing the latter to conduct an enquiry into the matter and submit a report to the Commission by February 15.
The Commission had also mentioned in its notice that the minor boy was beaten up and kicked by boot by the police official. The police had detained him inside the police station without providing him food, the commission had stated.
Following the inquiry, Rourkela SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamu put PSI Manas Ranjan Nayak under suspension today. The OHRC has also summoned three other personnel at the police station for questioning in connection with the incident.
“After a detailed inquiry we found professional lacuna from the officer while dealing with the juvenile and suspended him. Further investigation into the incident is underway,” said Bhamu.
Supreme Court guidelines and National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) directives prevent police from keeping minor offenders in custody.
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has also launched an investigation into the alleged assault on the minor boy in police custody.