Odisha: Boy claims police tortured him with cigarette burns

Jharsuguda: A minor boy in Odisha's Jharsuguda district was allegedly tortured and inflicted burns with cigarette butt while in police custody in connection with a theft incident. The incident allegedly took place on February 11 at Kolabira police station when the boy was being interrogated, Jharsuguda Deputy Superintendent of Police Anthony Tirkey said on Saturday. "We are inquiring into the allegation of the boy who has charged the police with torturing him with cigarette burns", Tirkey said.

The 17-year-old boy alleged before the local people outside that an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police had inflicted injury on his left hand by applying a burnt cigarette. After the incident came to light and was reported in the media, the police was inquiring into the incident, Tirkey said.

The boy was sent to the district headquarters hospital in Jharsuguda for treatment on Friday and the medical report was awaited, Tirkey said.