Rishi death case: OHRC seeks report form Bhubaneswar DCP

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sought a report from Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police over the mysterious death of Ashutosh Mohanty alias Rishi, a B.Tech student of ITER College.

Acting on a petition of human rights activist Akhand regarding the inaction of police in unearthing the mystery over the death, the Commission has directed the DCP to submit investigation report within three weeks.

It is alleged in the petition that on the evening of 5th May 2016, Rishi was with his friends and after dinner, he vomited and lost his senses for which he was immediately shifted to Capital Hospital here for treatment. He was declared dead the next evening.

“After seven months of the incident, fresh connections have now surfaced over the death of Rishi. A viral video clip allegedly of Bhubaneswar Mayor has been circulated in social media and broadcasted in different media. It has been alleged that he was murdered with the fear of publicity of the video clip that was in his possession,” said the petition.

Akhand raised the question as to why the death of Rishi was registered as a case of unnatural death (UD) at the Khandagiri police station and never investigated properly.

“Why was Shiekh Mumtaz, the drug peddler who reportedly supplied the drug that allegedly led to Rishi’s death, taken into custody and then let off without any further investigation?”, asked Akhand.

Hearing the petition, the acting chairperson of the Commission has directed the DCP to report about the fate of Khandagiri PS UD Case No.64 of 2016 to the Commission within three weeks.