Govt granted Rs 5 lakh to kin of man who died in custody: Puri SP to HC

CUTTACK: The Puri SP informed the Orissa high court on Monday that the state government has sanctioned an interim compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of the kin of the man, who died owing to alleged torture in custody.
In an affidavit, SP Kanwar Vishal Singh said the interim compensation has been sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund after sympathetic consideration of the plight of the bereaved family as per the suggestion of the high court.
The HC was hearing a PIL seeking court-monitored investigation and immediate action against the police officials involved in the alleged custodial death. Sarat Kumar Rayguru, a Puri-based lawyer filed the petition, which also sought compensation for the family of the deceased.
“The division bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Biswanath Rath posted the matter to December 22 for further hearing on the matter,” petitioner’s counsel Padmalaya Mohapatra said.
Earlier, in a counter affidavit to the PIL, Singh had claimed that the death of K Ramesh was not a case of custodial death.
“The death was completely accidental and a fallout of the tussle with the police, when the deceased was attempting to kill and escape by aiming his gun at the police team,” Singh had further claimed.
In a reply rejoinder to it, the petitioner alleged that the SP’s counter-affidavit had made false claims while suppressing the facts behind the death of K Ramesh. The whereabouts of the family members of the victim are not known and that the family of the victim has not been granted any compensation, the rejoinder said.
In the affidavit filed on Monday, Singh, however, claimed that the parents of the deceased are not in police custody or forced confinement and there are no allegations that they have been subjected to any misbehavior or ill-treatment or threat.
On the progress of the investigation, Singh pointed out that three independent and impartial inquiries are going on in the alleged custodial death case, at present.
While a DSP of the human rights protection cell of the State Police is inquiring into the case, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked its east zone rapporteur Vinod Agarwal to inquire into the matter. The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Puri is also inquiring under directions of the District & Sessions Judge, Puri as per NHRC guidelines, affidavit said.