Man dies after alleged torture in custody in Odisha; three police officers suspended

Image used to represent | Photo credit: The Hindu

Three policemen were suspended and one IPS officer was transferred from his post on Monday (Jun 1, 2026) after a man died after allegedly facing torture in custody in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

The alleged custodial death occurred at Kabisuryanagar police station. According to Mamajini Pradhan, wife of Susant Sahu, her husband was picked up from their house on 25 May 2026 along with another individual, Ishwar Sahu. Their arrest was allegedly made in connection with the stone pelting case.

“Both persons, including my husband, were not produced in court after their arrest. They were subjected to excessive physical torture. On Sunday (May 31, 2026), my father-in-law and brother-in-law were asked to take my husband away from the police station. We were also threatened that cases would be filed against us if we did not obey,” said Ms. Pradhan.

She said the police forcefully took the signature on a blank piece of paper. “We first admitted my husband at Aska sub-divisional hospital. When his condition worsened, he was shifted to MKCG Hospital, Berhampur, where doctors declared him brought dead on the night of May 31 to June 1,” Ms Pradhan said.

She demanded that a thorough investigation be conducted by examining the CCTV footage of the police station from May 25 to May 31 and Nitesh Kumar Mishra, a newly appointed IPS officer, be placed under surveillance.

A preliminary investigation into allegations of custodial torture was conducted. Inspector General Southern Range has transferred IPS officer Nitesh Kumar Mishra to the police district headquarters. Sub-Inspector Sameer Kumar Rout, Assistant Sub-Inspector Baikunth Jena and Constable Suman Kumar Sahu have been suspended.

Similarly, all the employees of Kabisuryanagar Police Station and Balichhai Police Station have been transferred from their respective posts. Director General of Police YB Khurania has ordered an investigation into the alleged custodial torture by the Human Rights Cell of the Urida Police.

The Odisha police have faced widespread condemnation over allegations of custodial torture. Recently, villagers blocked the busy Baranga-Tirsulia road to protest the alleged brutality of Baranga police station personnel. He was subsequently handed over to the Chief Inspector of Baranga Police Station. There were also reports of another case of custodial torture in Cuttack district.

Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal claimed that there has been a sharp increase in cases of custodial torture in Odisha. Referring to a parliamentary response, the party pointed out that nine deaths in custody were reported between 2025 and 15 March 2026, equal to the total number of deaths in custody reported in the previous four years – 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25 combined.

Published – 02 Jun 2026 01:40 IST