Bhubaneswar, May 27: Serious allegations of custodial torture have surfaced against personnel of Talchua Marine Police Station in Odisha after a woman and her son accused police officials of physical assault and harassment inside the police station premises.

According to a complaint submitted to the Pattamundai Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Annapurna Mandal (58), wife of Paban Kumar Mandal of Giriapahi village under Baghamari panchayat, and her son Ananta Mandal were called to the police station on May 25 in connection with a complaint reportedly filed by Paban Mandal.

The mother-son duo alleged that they were detained at the police station till late night and subjected to third-degree torture by police personnel. In the complaint, they accused woman Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Sandhya Rani Jena and other police staff of verbally abusing and physically assaulting them.

Annapurna alleged that she was beaten with lathis and assaulted in a semi-clothed condition in front of her son. Her son Ananta also claimed that police personnel took them into a toilet inside the police station where they were allegedly assaulted by a havildar and the woman IIC.

The complainants further alleged that police seized Ananta’s mobile phone and forced them to sign blank papers before releasing them around 11:40 pm.

However, senior police officials have strongly denied the allegations, terming the claims “baseless and fabricated.” Further investigation into the matter is underway.

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