Jajpur, Aug 6: A youth attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison alleging third-degree custodial torture by Balichandrapur police in Odisha's Jajpur district.
The victim has been identified as Rabindra Mallik (28), a resident of Mahipur village in Anaka panchayat.
He was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital in critical condition and his health condition is stated to be critical.
Rabindra alleged that he was brutally beaten and forced to strip naked by the police while in custody, a traumatic experience that led him to take such an extreme step.
Meanwhile, his family accused the police of failing to inform them about the incident or his transfer to the hospital. They revealed that they only learned of Rabindra’s condition three days after he was admitted.
According to reports, Rabindra was detained at the Balichandrapur police station for questioning in connection with a family dispute. On August 3, Rabindra’s physically disabled father, Maheshwar, and their neighbor, Namita Mallik, were reportedly attacked with a sword by Rabindra’s cousin, Badal.
In an attempt to protect his father, Rabindra threw hot rice gruel at Badal. After the altercation, Badal went to the police and filed a complaint against Rabindra, while Rabindra and Namita both filed counter-allegations.
Following Badal's complaint, the police detained Rabindra for interrogation, during which he alleged that he was severely beaten and forced to strip. He also claimed that his family was not allowed to visit him. Unable to endure the abuse, Rabindra reportedly took a bottle of poison from the lockup and consumed it.
He further alleged that one of the police officers had placed the poison bottle in the room and that despite witnessing him consume it, no officer attempted to stop him.
However, the Balichandrapur police have denied all of Rabindra's allegations. IIC Samarjit Nayak asserted that the claims were false and dismissed the accusations of custodial torture.
