The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action-Taken Report (ATR) from the SP of Kendrapada within four weeks over custodial torture of two doctors and six other para medical staff of a local nursing home.

Acting on a petition filed by activist Dillip Kumar Samantray , the NHRC passed the order and sought detailed reply within four weeks. The NHRC has warned to invoke coercive process under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for personal appearance of the concerned authority if its order is not complied with.

Notably, the  Nayagarh –based  social activist Samantray had filed a petition before the NHRC on August  2 alleging that Dr Debashis Sahu(pediatric) and Dr Shibashis Sahu(surgery) were residing with their family at Manakarpur-based Durga Nursing home  as the nursing home belonged to their father. As per report  on  July 31, they had a tiff with  Town police SI Soumya Ranjan Jally, who had gone to the nursing home over an inquiry against the duo doctors.

So the police nabbed the duo doctors along with six other staff and brought them to the police station.

During police custody, there was allegation of police having meted out inhuman treatment and torture to them.

Activist Samantaray had requested before the NHRC to seek a  crime Branch /judiciary inquiry into the custodial torture, direct the DGP of Odisha to submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks  of time by taking disciplinary action against the IIC of Kendrapada town police station, besides a direction to the Chief Secretary for providing compensation of Rs 1 crore to the both doctors and their staff.