Cuttack, Jan. 8: A probe has begun into the alleged detention and physical torture of two minor boys by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel here on Wednesday.

The RPF had detained the two children for nearly a week for allegedly stealing a mobile phone on December 31. The district administration rescued them after the Legal Support and Social Action (Lessa), a voluntary organis-ation, brought the matter to its notice on Tuesday.

While one victim is 13-year-old, the other is a year older. They both alleged that the cops at the police station had beaten them up and gave food only once a day.

RPF inspector-general Srikant Mishra said a joint team headed by senior divisional security commissioner Chaitanya Marandi was probing the incident.

The probe team has already questioned several persons, including the officer in-charge of the police station Ashok Dash.

“The team will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty,” said Mishra.

The team comprises assistant security commissioner P.K. Mansingh, inspector crime branch Alok Jena and senior inspector (headquarters) R.K. Narendra. They have been asked to submit its report within 15 days.

The incident had caused a furore after a local television aired the video footage of the operation by the district administration. Without initiating action as per the prescribed guidelines, the children were kept in confinement for over a week and were allegedly subjected to physical torture. The NGO today submitted a memorandum to the Odisha Human Rights Protection Cell demanding stern action against the errant cops.