Bhubaneswar: Director-general of police Rajendra Prasad Sharma on Thursday ordered a crime branch inquiry into the incident, in which an accused was found dead in police custody at Mahakalpada police station of Kendrapara district, about 130km from here.

One deputy superintendent of police has been entrusted with the investigation of the case.

In a news release, the DGP office said: "Considering the gravity of the case and for a fair and impartial investigation, DGP Sharma has ordered crime branch inquiry."

Earlier, Sharma had suspended inspector-in-charge of the police station Shyamaghana Behera on the issue for his utter negligence of duty. The director-general of police ordered the crime branch probe following allegations that the accused, Abinash Patial of Balanala village, was murdered by Mahakalapada police during the interrogation on August 26.

The police arrested Abinash in a mobile theft case. The cops picked him up on August 25, and his body was found hanging in an abandoned house adjacent to Mahakalapada police station.

Following the wrath of local people, the police gave the incident a colour, stating that Abinash had escaped from the police station around 10pm on August 25, when he was taken out of the lock-up to attend nature's call. "We had launched a search to trace the accused but could not find him. Abinash's body was found hanging from the staircase railing of a house," a police official had said.

However, the villagers did not subscribe to the police arguments.

The local people had resorted to a roadblock at Balana Chhak on the Jambu-Marshaghai road, leading to a law and order problem. The senior police officials had to rush to the spot to bring the situation under control. They had even offered a home guard job to the family members of Abinash.

However, Abinash's family did not accept it. His father, Sarat Chandra Paital, alleged that local police had shoved a rod inside his anus leading to his death. "My son had been subjected to a lot of physical torture. They struck a nail on his foot. The police had taken away the life of my son. I want justice and severe punishment against those accused," alleged Abinash's father.

On the other hand, Abinash's mother was inconsolable. "They should return my son immediately. How can I live without him?" she said.

Welcoming the crime branch probe, former director-general of police Sanjeev Marik said: "There was a serious lapse on part of local police. There is a standard procedure when an accused goes outside, a sentry keeps an eye on the issue. It must have been followed. How the death took place should be inquired."

Snakebite death

A 55-year-old farmer died of snakebite on Wednesday while ploughing his field at Bandhasahi village in Pattamundai police limits in Kendrapara district. The deceased has been identified as Charan Sethy, police said.