Rourkela police-magistrate brawl probe resumes

While four of the witnesses who had filed affidavits before the Commission were summoned on Friday, only three turned up to give their depositions, sources said on Saturday.

Rourkela police constable Joseph Tiga and two other independent witnesses Mehfuz Alam and Salil Khan gave their depositions before the Commission and they were also cross-examined by the counsel of Rourkela Bar Association and the concerned judicial magistrate Arun Kumar Patnaik.

It may be recalled that the local magistrate was allegedly assaulted by Rourkela police when he was spotted in an inebriated state on the night of April 2 after India won the ICC World Cup tournament. The alleged police assault on the magistrate had evoked widespread reactions in the state following which the State government had instituted a Commission of enquiry headed by Justice Naidu, a former judge of Odisha High Court.

At least 37 affidavits had been received by the Commission which began its investigation on August 20 this year. The Commission has been asked to submit its report to the Government in three months. Looking at the paucity of the time left before the Commission, Justice Naidu has decided to hold the sittings of the Commission continuously for next five days in the city here, sources disclosed.