Bhubaneswar, May 31: The Commissionerate Police on Sunday removed Baranga police station Inspector In-charge (IIC) Niranjan Behera.The development came after hundreds of angry residents attempted to storm the premises of Baranga police station in Cuttack on Friday over allegations of custodial torture of a detainee, whose condition is stated to be critical.Behera has been shunted to the Cuttack Urban Police District (UPD) headquarters in Cuttack. Purighat IIC Biswaranjan Nayak has been given the additional charge of Baranga police station.For the context, Barnaga police detained a youth namely Rakesh Behera in connection with the death of a woman, whose half-buried body was recovered from Kathajodi riverbed on May 20. The case already gained attention because Behera’s wife had gone missing on May 15, prompting him to file a missing person report on May 16.Rakesh’s family members alleged that though they informed police that his wife was alive, he was detained and subjected to inhuman treatment.Rakesh’s father Kartika Behera alleged that his son was mercilessly beaten till May 23 inside the police station. Rakesh is reportedly fighting for his life at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack now.When the news of custodial torture spread, the incident has sparked tension in the area, besides political outrage with the opposition BJD and Congress demanding swift action against the Baranga police station staff.The irate crowd, demanding immediate suspension of the officers involved, accused the police of shielding their own.However, Baranga police personnel claimed that the victim has a history of some underlying diseases.DGP Y B Khurania has also sought a report from Commissioner of Police S Dev Datta Singh on the matter.
Odisha Custodial Torture: Baranga IIC Niranjan Behera removed
