Viral Video From Odisha's Ganjam Sparks Outrage
Dalit youth alleges illegal confinement, custodial-style assault
Bhubaneswar : A viral video purportedly showing a young man being brutally assaulted inside a locked room has triggered outrage in Odisha's Ganjam district, with a Dalit youth alleging that he was illegally confined and tortured for nearly three days by a group of men.
The incident is reported to have occurred within the jurisdiction of Berhampur Sadar Police Station, although the police have not yet officially verified either the authenticity of the video or the allegations made by the complainant.
The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, appears to show the youth being assaulted inside a locked room. Four individuals are reportedly visible in the footage, with one person allegedly beating the victim while others remain present. The video could not be independently verified.
A written complaint purportedly filed by the youth has also surfaced online, naming several individuals as the alleged attackers.
In the complaint, the youth, who identifies himself as a member of the Scheduled Caste community, alleged that he was abducted, illegally confined for nearly three days, physically assaulted, and denied food and water throughout his captivity.
He further alleged that he was pressured to participate in illegal activities and was subjected to violence after refusing to comply.
Claiming that his life remained under threat, the youth said he had submitted written representations to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Odisha Director General of Police, and the Ganjam district administration, seeking protection and a fair investigation into the incident.
The allegations, coupled with the circulation of the video, have sparked widespread concern on social media, with many users demanding an impartial probe and action against those responsible if the claims are found to be true.
As of Sunday morning, the Odisha Police had not issued any official statement confirming the authenticity of the video or the allegations contained in the complaint.
