BJD moves OHRC over Ganjam custodial death, demands FIR against cops
Synopsis
A physically challenged man on disability pension, allegedly tortured for seven days in a Ganjam police station without an FIR against him, died after being handed back to his family in critical condition. The BJD has now taken the case to the Odisha Human Rights Commission, demanding an FIR against the police — a test of how far accountability will travel up the chain.
Key Takeaways
A BJD delegation led by former MLA Bhrugu Baxipatra met the OHRC Chairperson on 3 June over the Ganjam custodial death.
The deceased, Sushant Sahu , was allegedly detained at Kabisuryanagar police station from 25 May for seven days without an FIR against him.
Sahu, a physically challenged disability-pension beneficiary, was the sole earner for his wife and four children.
BJD has demanded an FIR against the police personnel, compensation, education support for the children, and a job for the widow.
Three police officials have been suspended and an under-training IPS officer withdrawn from independent charge of the station.
A Biju Janata Dal (BJD) delegation on 3 June met the Chairperson of the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) in Bhubaneswar, seeking urgent intervention in the alleged custodial torture and death of Sushant Sahu, a physically challenged man from Kabisuryanagar in Ganjam district. The delegation pressed for an FIR against the police personnel involved and compensation for the bereaved family.
Key Allegations
The delegation, led by senior party leader and former MLA Bhrugu Baxipatra, alleged that Sahu died due to police torture despite no FIR being registered against him. ‘Our first question is on what grounds he was taken to the police station and why he was allegedly subjected to torture for seven days. The police have violated established rules, regulations and Supreme Court guidelines on custodial detention and torture,' Baxipatra told reporters after the meeting.
Baxipatra said Sahu, a beneficiary of the state government's disability pension, was the sole earning member of a family that includes his wife and four children.
What the BJD Demanded
The delegation urged the OHRC to recommend immediate compensation, educational support for Sahu's children, and a government job for his wife. ‘We have requested the Commission to direct the government to provide adequate compensation, support the children's education and livelihood, and ensure employment for the deceased's wife,' Baxipatra said.
The party's central demand, however, is criminal accountability. ‘Our key demand is that an FIR be lodged against the police officials responsible for the alleged custodial death,' he added, also pressing for a thorough inquiry and legal action against the accused personnel.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to allegations by family members, Sahu, a native of Subalaya village in Ganjam district, was brought to Kabisuryanagar police station on 25 May during a raid and detained for questioning in a case linked to illegal stone blasting. Two people had reportedly been arrested earlier in the same case, but Sahu's involvement was allegedly not established.
On Sunday, he was reportedly handed over to his family in a critical condition. After preliminary treatment at Aska hospital, he was referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, where doctors declared him dead on Monday.
Action So Far
The death has triggered widespread outrage, prompting the suspension of three police officials and the withdrawal of an under-training IPS officer who was holding independent charge of the Kabisuryanagar police station. The OHRC, according to Baxipatra, assured the delegation that appropriate steps would be taken within its jurisdiction.
‘The Commission assured us that whatever is possible within its purview will be done to provide justice to Sushant Sahu and his family,' he said. The matter now hinges on whether the Commission directs the state to register an FIR against the police personnel — a step the family and the opposition say is non-negotiable.
Point of View
And the targeting of a person with disabilities who had no documented role in the underlying offence. The suspension of three officers and the pullback of an under-training IPS officer suggests the state has conceded procedural lapses, but stops short of the criminal accountability the family is asking for. Custodial deaths in Odisha have repeatedly ended at departmental action, with FIRs against police personnel remaining the exception. Whether the OHRC pushes for one here will signal how seriously the post-Supreme Court D.K. Basu safeguards are being enforced on the ground.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ganjam custodial death case about?
The case involves Sushant Sahu, a physically challenged man from Subalaya village in Ganjam district, who allegedly died after seven days of custodial torture at Kabisuryanagar police station. His family alleges he was detained from 25 May in connection with an illegal stone-blasting case despite no FIR being registered against him.
Why has the BJD approached the OHRC?
The BJD delegation, led by former MLA Bhrugu Baxipatra, approached the Odisha Human Rights Commission on 3 June to seek intervention, an FIR against the police personnel involved, and compensation for the family. The party has also demanded education support for Sahu's four children and a government job for his widow.
What action has been taken against the police so far?
Three police officials have been suspended and an under-training IPS officer who was holding independent charge of the Kabisuryanagar police station has been withdrawn. However, no FIR has yet been registered against the police personnel — which is the BJD's central demand.
Who was Sushant Sahu and why is the case drawing attention?
Sushant Sahu was a physically challenged man and a beneficiary of the state government's disability pension, and the sole earning member for his wife and four children. The case has drawn outrage because he was allegedly detained for seven days without an FIR and was handed over to his family in a critical condition before being declared dead at MKCG Medical College in Berhampur.
