A routine custody case at Baranga Police Station has snowballed into a major controversy after serious allegations surfaced that police allegedly staged a bike accident to hide injuries inflicted during “third-degree” interrogation.
Rakesh Behera was reportedly taken into custody on May 22. According to family members and villagers, he was allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse inside the station. The very next night (May 23), while still supposedly in police custody, Rakesh was involved in a mysterious bike accident. He was later admitted to MedEx Hospital and then shifted to SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack.
The sequence of events has triggered widespread outrage. Locals are asking pointed questions: How was a person in police custody allowed to ride a bike at night? Who granted permission? Why was the FIR registered only on May 26 — three days after the so-called accident? And why do medical records and police statements show glaring inconsistencies?
An FIR has now been lodged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 125(A), 125(B), and 281, based on a complaint by Dr. Biswaranjan Mohapatra. However, senior police officials have so far maintained silence, while the Barang Police Station IIC and other staff are facing serious scrutiny over their alleged role.
Social media has amplified the story after copies of the FIR and medical prescriptions went viral, exposing multiple discrepancies in the timeline. Meanwhile, Rakesh’s mother says her son’s condition has improved, and he is now able to speak. His wife, who had gone missing earlier, has also returned home. She had reportedly left in search of better earnings to repay debts.
The incident has once again brought the issue of custodial torture and police accountability into sharp focus in Odisha.
