Cuttack, March 2: The death of a 27-year-old man allegedly in police custody sparked off protest by his family members outside energy police station at Jobra today.

Krutibas Mohapatra allegedly died hours after he was brought to the police station for questioning in connection with a theft case yesterday.

As they sat in protest with the body for nearly four hours, the family members of Krutibas demanded immediate action against “guilty” police officers.

Krutibas worked as a security guard at the central store of Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) at Thermal Colony in Choudwar for the past eight years. His family members alleged that he died after he was brutally beaten up by the cops inside the police station.

However, senior police officials said he died by consuming poison.

“We are investigating the case following the National Human Rights Commission guidelines. The post-mortem has been conducted by a team of doctors and the entire process has been videographed,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar.

However, Krutibas’ family members said he did not commit suicide and alleged that the policemen poisoned him when his condition deteriorated at the police station.

“My brother did not consume poison because he was picked up by the cops and taken to the police station around 10.30am yesterday. Though we tried to call him, his mobile phone was switched off,” said Pitabas Mohapatra, the deceased’s brother, who works in Hyderabad.

Pitabas said around 7.30pm, the police informed that his brother’s condition had deteriorated and that he had been rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital.

“It’s a clear case of torture inside the police station because the body has injury marks on the neck, wrist and forehead and blood was oozing out of his nose,” Pitabas said.

On the other hand, the police said the youth was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital when he told them he had consumed poison. Krutibas died around 8.30pm yesterday.

“Based on the report of the inspector in charge of energy police station, a case under section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) has been registered at Mangalabag police station,” the deputy commissioner of police said.

Energy police had earlier registered a case against four security guards, including Krutibas, under section 136 of the Electricity Act, following a the complaint lodged by Cesu sub-divisional officer concerning a theft on February 19.

According to Kumar, the deceased had informed the police that he had consumed poison and was immediately rushed to the hospital. He was also provided necessary medical assistance but he died two hours after he was admitted to the hospital.