NHRC notice to Odisha police on custodial violence

The alleged incident had taken place in Kendrapara sub jail on September 19 and it was brought to the notice of the NHRC by Pipili-based social organisation India Media Centre, that work for victims of custodial violence.

According to the petition filed by the organisation, undertrial Bimal Prasad Das had sustained grievous burn injuries while he was lodged in the sub-jail last month, but he was denied hospitalisation and when he lodged a complaint, police did not act upon it.It has been alleged that Das received burn injuies after he was pushed into a kitchen by the jail superintendent when he refused to cook.He fell on a hot rice pot and sustained burn injuries on back, neck and shoulder, but he was allegedly not taken to a hospital.

The incident came to light when he was released on bail and he filed a case in Kendrapara police station.

However,police did not act upon the complaint, the petition said.

Stating that it was a gross violation of human rights of an undertrial prisoner, the organisation approached the NHRC seeking a damage of at least Rs three lakh to the victim.