Bhubaneswar, Feb. 14: Congress MP from Nabarangpur, Pradeep Majhi, today launched an indefinite strike against the alleged harassment and torture of tribals by the Malkangiri police.

Majhi, who with about 50 of his supporters, began the dharna near Raj Bhavan, said: “There are many instances of the police picking up innocent people who were later killed in custody. But the police projected these people as missing from the custody.”

Citing an example, Majhi said during an inquiry by a fact-finding team of the Congress, it was revealed that one Trinath Samrath of village Narayanguda in Tondki gram panchayat of Korkonda block in Malakangiri district, was picked up by the police from his house on April 23, 2013, on allegations of his involvement in theft cases.

“Samrath has not yet been taken to judicial custody nor released from police custody. The family members took several steps to trace him, but failed,” said Majhi. Majhi also alleged that Samrath was mercilessly beaten up and is suspected to have succumbed to his injuries in police custody. But police have been successful in wiping out all the evidence, he said.

The MP alleged that the fact-finding team also found that four other persons were missing. They are Indra Madi, sarpanch, Tentuliguda in Korkunda block who is missing since 2008, Akul Sarkar —ward member — MV 123 ( missing since 2008), Tamai Madkami ( missing since 2009) and Benu Hantal.

Maji said: “ A detailed inquiry should be conducted into the Samrath case. The sub-divisional district police officer who is involved in the case should be arrested. If our demands are not fulfilled, an agitation will be launched.”

Former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee chief Niranjan Patnaik extended his support to Majhi and wrote a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeing his intervention in the matter.

However, Malkangir SP Akhileswar Singh denied the allegations. “Samrath was never arrested by the police. He has been missing since last August. We are also not at fault,” he said.