Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission on Monday asked the director-general of police and the police commissioner to inquire into the assault allegation by two sisters against Nayapalli police station employees and submit a report within a week.

The BJP's women's wing also met the State Commission for Women, demanding stringent action against the police officials involved in the incident.

The rights body made the direction while hearing a petition by the victims and two other petitioners. "The commission has fixed May 25 for next hearing of the case. This is a serious case, and it should be investigated thoroughly," said Prabir Das, one of the petitioners.

Both the victims in their 20's have accused the Nayapalli police station officials, including the then inspector-in-charge Sangram Pattnaik, of brutally assaulting them in connection with a land dispute case. The victims had also shared the photographs of their injuries on Facebook, which later became viral. Following the allegations, the then inspector-in-charge and two lady sub-inspectors were removed from the police station.

However, the police had pleaded innocent and claimed that the injury marks were caused during a clash over the land dispute. The Nayapalli incident emerged one day after inspector in charge of Nimapara police station in Puri district Mrutyunjay Swain was suspended for allegedly assaulting a 75-year-old woman on May 7.

The women wing of the BJP demanded immediate suspension of the police officials involved in the assault. "It has been three days since the matter came up on various local media, but the erring police officials have only been removed from the police station. They should have been immediately suspended," said BJP state women wing chief Pravati Parida.

On the other hand, the police said they were waiting for the report of the district human rights protection cell's additional deputy commissioner of police to take further course of action.

Sources said the report of the district human rights protection cell was likely to be submitted by Tuesday.

Brown sugar

Excise sleuths on Monday seized 55 grams of brown sugar weighing from Badambadi here. The market value of the contraband is around Rs 5.5 lakh. The accused has been identified as Dilip Behera, who was nabbed while transporting the consignment to Bhubaneswar.