Police station ransacked after detainee allegedly dies in custody

Nabarangpur:  Accusing cops of killing a detainee, hundreds of villagers of Panjaraguda and nearby areas gheroaed and ransacked property inside the Kodinga police station in Nabarangpur district on Sunday. The villagers alleged that the cops had picked up two villagers for their alleged involvement in a cock-fight yesterday.

The agitating locals also accused the cops of trying to suppress the matter by picking up family members of one of the detainees, Gobardhan Bindhani. Following the tension, police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the mob.

As per the allegations, Kodinga police picked up one Gobardhan Bindhani of Panjaraguda village under Dabugaon police limits and one Kamlu Harijan of Badapanjuria village from Khatiguda market on Saturday for their alleged involvement in a cock-fight betting. Later, the cops also picked up Gobardhan's wife and his daughter from their house.

While the police reportedly released Kamlu today, there is no information regarding the whereabouts of Gobardhan and his family members.

"Police had picked up Gobardhan from the market at around 3 PM yesterday, but today we came to know that he is already dead. We do not know whether he is dead or alive. We also heard that the Dabugaon police picked up his (Gobardhan) wife and daughter last night and they are also missing since then," said a relative of Gobardhan.

He also alleged that the police are intentionally trying to suppress the matter.

"An Additional SP informed us that Gobardhan was shifted to a hospital in Visakhapatnam as his health condition deteriorated, but he is already dead now while his mortal remains will reach here in next 2-3 hours. However, we are yet to trace his wife and daughter. Police are not responding to our questions," he alleged.

Later, the Additional SP of Nabarangpur admitted that Gobardhan died in police custody. "He was unwell; therefore, we admitted him to Kosagumuda hospital then shifted to Nabarangpur. When his condition deteriorated further, we shifted him to Visakhapatnam where doctors declared him dead."

He further said that a probe will be conducted and stern action will be taken against those found guilty.