Bhubaneswar, May 6: The state government today ordered two probes into the circumstances that lead to a mob attacking the Begunia police station in Khurda district last night following the death of a 30-year-old man.

Inspector-general of police (central range) Arun Ray and Khurda district collector Rupa Mishra will conduct the probes. The government has also transferred the inspector in charge of the police station Ambika Prasad Das, said state home secretary U.N. Behera.

A mob had ransacked the police station and set in it on fire after the body of Hemanta Nayak, who was earlier taken into custody by the police, was found hanging from a tree. The villagers alleged that the police had beaten him to death in custody and later hanged his body to make it look like suicide.

Khurda collector Rupa Mishra today visited the police station and inquired about the circumstances that led to yesterday’s mob violence.

“The entire investigation will be recorded. I will look into preceding incidents, what the allegations were and what steps the police took. If the police have done any misdeed, it will be recorded,” said Mishra.

The inquest of the deceased was conducted in the presence of a magistrate today and sent to SCB Hospital for post-mortem.

His family members today met the state human rights commission and alleged that it was a case of custodial death. They demanded stern action against the inspector in charge and adequate compensation.

“My brother was framed. They demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000. But I am a poor tribal daily labourer and could not pay the money. He was in police custody for three days. I came to know from Begunia police yesterday that he had died,” said the deceased’s brother Budhia Nayak.

The family members and local residents alleged that the police had taken four persons, including the deceased, into custody. While three of them were let off, Hemanta was kept at the police station. Yesterday morning his body was found hanging from a tree.

“We saw injury marks on his body and suspect that the police might have beaten him to death,” said Budhia.

Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of villagers gathered outside the police station shouting slogans against the officers. Later, they ransacked a police van at the police station and set it on fire. Several documents and furniture were destroyed.

The irate residents then blocked the Khurda-Balangir highway demanding adequate compensation for the victim’s family and stern action against the culprits. The roadblock was lifted around 3am after the local SP and sub-collector assured them that their demands would be looked into.