Crime in Odisha / Six Odisha Cops Arrested in 2016 Custodial Death Case
Key Points
Ten years after the Narsinghpur custodial death, six police personnel including a retired ASI and home guards have been arrested.
Cuttack, April 8: Six police personnel have been arrested in connection with the infamous Narsinghpur custodial death case, nearly a decade after the incident shook Odisha.
The arrests include a retired Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), three retired home guards, one serving home guard, and a havildar. They were produced in court following their detention.
Case at a Glance
The case dates back to December 2016, when a dispute broke out between the family of Revati Naik of Malisahi village and their neighbour, Saroj Senapati. Revati lodged a written complaint at Narsinghpur police station against Saroj.
Also read: Nine Tamil Nadu Policemen Sentenced toDeath in Custodial Brutality Case
Acting on the complaint, police registered a case and attempted to arrest Saroj. During the arrest, a scuffle ensued, leaving both Saroj and police personnel injured. Another case was filed against Saroj based on the ASI’s complaint.
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✨Saroj was taken into custody and lodged in the Narsinghpur police station lock-up. His health deteriorated while in custody, prompting police to shift him first to Narsinghpur hospital and later to SCB Medical College in Cuttack.
On December 11, 2016, doctors declared him dead. The custodial death triggered widespread outrage, with Saroj’s family alleging police brutality.
Demand for Justice
In response to public anger, authorities had offered compensation of ₹10 lakh to Saroj’s family and appointed his wife as a home guard. However, the demand for justice persisted. Now, 10 years later, police have finally acted against their own, arresting six personnel allegedly responsible for the custodial death.
The arrested individuals are: retired ASI Bhagaban Sahu, havildar Pramod Kumar Patra, retired home guards Bhikari Nayak and Jogi Nayak, home guard Maheswar Debata, and home guard Dharmaraj Rana.
Their arrest marks a rare instance of police accountability
in a custodial death case, reigniting discussions about human rights and
justice in Odisha’s law enforcement system.
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