Odisha: A family at Kandhamal hospital reports that their deceased prisoner was tortured

Abhiram Digal, 34, an undertrial prisoner from Dimirikuda village in the Phiringia police limits of Kandhamal district, fell suddenly on Tuesday night while receiving treatment at the Kandhamal district headquarters hospital (DHH).

A non-bailable warrant was issued against Digal in a ganja smuggling case, and on April 15, 2024, he turned himself in to the authorities. Digal was facing an NDPS charge. After that, he was booked into Phulbani Jail.

After apparently experiencing a decline in his health on Tuesday while incarcerated, Digal was taken to the hospital, where he eventually passed away from his sickness.

Following his passing, there was a tense atmosphere in the hospital, but it was soon diffused by police intervention.

The brother of the deceased, Mikhail Digal, reported his brother’s death to the Phulbani town police, claiming that Abhiram had been tortured while being held captive. He said that before being transferred to DHH, Abhiram’s family was kept in the dark about his failing condition, and that his body was covered in many damage marks.

The family said that Abhiram was healthy before to being imprisoned but suffered as a result of claimed physical abuse by police brutality.

In response to the accusations, Phulbani SDPO Suprasanna Mallik said that Abhiram’s hospital admission was brought on by a medical condition. The cause of death cannot be ascertained until the report is obtained, even if the corpse has been submitted for an autopsy.

The family of Abhiram has sought an unbiased investigation into the events leading up to his murder.