Barang, May 30: A major road blockade on the busy Bhubaneswar-Cuttack highway was lifted after nearly six hours on Friday following discussions between police officials and protesters. The agitation was triggered by allegations of third-degree torture of a youth, Rakesh Behera, at Barang Police Station in Odisha's Cuttack district.
Vehicular movement between the twin cities came to a standstill as family members and residents of Chandi Prasad village staged a protest in front of the police station. The protesters opposed the alleged move by police to shift Rakesh, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Cuttack, without informing his family members.
Earlier in the day, angry villagers reportedly stormed the police station, demanding action against the personnel allegedly involved in the incident. The protest later escalated into a road blockade, severely disrupting traffic along the key Bhubaneswar-Cuttack route. The blockade was eventually withdrawn after senior police officers intervened and held talks with the demonstrators.
Meanwhile, Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania has sought a detailed investigation report from the Police Commissioner regarding the allegations.
Rejecting the accusations, Cuttack DCP Rishikesh Dnyandeo Khilari stated that Rakesh was not subjected to any custodial torture. He said the youth was released within 24 hours after being called for questioning and that there was no evidence of any assault while in police custody. The DCP also noted that Rakesh had been suffering from kidney-related health issues.
According to police sources, Rakesh was brought to Barang Police Station on May 21 in connection with the recovery of a woman's body from the Kathajodi riverbed. Since his wife had earlier been reported missing at the same police station, investigators initially suspected that the body might belong to her.
However, Rakesh's family alleged that even after his wife was traced, he was not released immediately and was physically assaulted during interrogation. They further claimed that his health deteriorated due to the alleged custodial abuse, following which he was admitted to the hospital.
Rakesh has been undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital since May 25. Family members allege that his condition remains critical, intensifying public anger and leading to Friday's large-scale protest. Authorities are now awaiting the findings of the official inquiry into the incident.
