Cuttack, March 8: The Human Rights Protection Cell today began probe into the alleged death of a youth in police custody on March 1.

Krutibas Mohapatra, 27, died at SCB Medical College and Hospital, hours after he was allegedly beaten up by officials inside Energy police station at Jobra.

A deputy superintendent of police is conducting the investigation based on two separate complaints lodged by the the deceased's family members and inspector in charge of Energy police station with Mangalabag police station.

“We have ordered for a detailed probe. The post-mortem report and other investigation reports will be scrutinised,” said B.K. Sharma, additional director- general of police.

The family members alleged that the inspector in charge of Energy police station Satyanarayan Rath and other officials had beaten him up following which he died.

However, they said Krutibas, one of the suspects of a theft case, had died after consuming poison. He was rushed to SCB. He was undergoing treatment, following which he died around 8.30pm on March 1.

Sharma said according to the National Human Rights Commission guidelines, the incident would be investigated in a free and fair manner.

Krutibas was working as a security guard at the central store of Central Electricity Supplu Utility (Cesu) at Thermal Colony in Choudwar.

Energy police had registered a case against Krutibas and three other security guards under Section 136 of the Electricity Act for stealing property on February 19.

Following Krutibas’s death, the family members had demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the assault and adequate compensation. They had staged a demonstration with the body in front of Energy police station for two days.

The agitation was called off only after Cesu officials announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh and a contractual job for a family member of the deceased.