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NHRC seeks report on man's custodial death in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Odisha government on the death of a man allegedly in police custody, a petitioner said Tuesday.

Acting on a complaint lodged by human rights activist Akhand, the commission directed the secretary of the state home department to submit within four weeks the report of the district magistrate who also investigated the matter.

According to Akhand, the 30-year-old Hemant Nayak, a resident of Bhuinpur village in Khordha district, was picked up by police along with three others May 3, 2013, in connection with the case of a girl's harassment.

But Nayak's mutilated body was found hanging from a banyan tree in Badaberana, a nearby village, two days later, while the other three returned home.

Nayak's family and the villagers alleged that he was tortured and killed in police custody.

"I had sought an independent inquiry into the matter and registration of complaint against the local police. Besides, I had sought a compensation of Rs.10 lakh to the family of the deceased as he was the only earning member in the family," said Akhand.