The Puri police have denied the death of K Ramesh as a case of custodial death and, instead, termed it as “accidental”.
In response to a PIL filed in this connection, newly-appointed Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh in an affidavit in the Orissa High Court has urged the court to dismiss the petition because it has been filed on the basis of ‘mere surmises and conjecture’.
“The petitioner is labouring under a serious misconception with regard to the facts while the fact remains that there has been no illegality or wrongdoing on the part of police personnel,” the affidavit said, adding that the averments of the petitioner regarding the arrest of the deceased on November 18 is completely false and the petitioner is thoroughly unaware of the facts as Ramesh was not arrested on that day.
Sarat Kumar Rayguru, a Puri-based advocate and social activist, has approached the court seeking a court-monitored investigation, stringent action against erring police officers and adequate compensation to Ramesh’s family.
The Puri SP, in his affidavit has informed the court that while Ramesh was captured by police, a tussle ensued resulting in Ramesh falling on a stony road, which ultimately was the cause of his death.
“The present case is not a case of custodial death as the death was completely accidental and a fallout of the tussle when the deceased was attempting to kill and escape by aiming his gun at the police team,” the affidavit said.
