Koraput: The Odisha Human Rights Commission has directed the DIG (southwestern range) to conduct an inquiry into the alleged suicide of an arrested Maoist inside the police headquarters in Malkangiri district and submit a report within four weeks.
The commission's acting chairperson B.K. Mishra issued the order on Wednesday while hearing to a petition filed by two advocates, Biswapriya Kanungo and Bijaya Kumar Panda, as well as another petition filed by an activist identified as Akhand.
"The commission clubbed the two petitions filed in the case and have directed the DIG (southwestern range) stationed in Koraput to conduct an inquiry into the complaint and submit the report," said Kanungo. He said as the charges framed against the alleged Maoist, Soma Kawasi, were not proved, he should be treated as innocent. And the death of an innocent person in police custody raises serious concern of human rights violation. "As reasonable suspicion exists that Soma died due to custodial torture, we had approached the commission."
Also, the commission has directed the DIG (southwestern range) to submit the autopsy report, arrest memo and the report of the inquiry conducted by the judicial magistrate. "The case of custodial deaths is being inquired by a judicial magistrate and the commission has sought its report," Kanungo said.