Banapur: Police have arrested two persons after a 32-year-old man died following an alleged assault by locals who suspected him of theft in Odisha's Khordha district. Police, however, denied allegations that their personnel were involved in the assault, even as the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) accused the police of excesses and demanded action.

The deceased has been identified as Tofan Nayak (32) of Bhimpur village under Banapur police limits.

According to police, the incident took place at Khanat village at around 4 pm on June 28. A case was registered at Banapur Police Station late on June 29 based on a complaint filed by the deceased's wife, Sasmita Nayak.

Banapur police have registered Case No. 254/2026 under Sections 296, 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) and 3(2)(v-a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The two apprehended persons have been identified as Pabitra Rout (51) and Sarat Kumar Swain (60), both residents of Khanat village. They are being questioned as part of the investigation.

Banapur IIC Jayaprakash Parida said police rushed to the spot after receiving a call on the emergency helpline 112 and found Tofan in a critical condition. Police claimed they attempted to shift him to a hospital for treatment, but he allegedly refused to accompany them.

Preliminary investigation suggests that Tofan was allegedly assaulted by some local residents on suspicion of attempting theft. Police said CCTV footage from the area is being examined, and the exact sequence of events will be established based on the investigation and the post-mortem report.

The body has been sent to the Capital Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the deceased's family has rejected the theft allegation, claiming Tofan had no previous criminal record. They have alleged that he was assaulted due to caste-related animosity and demanded strict action against those responsible. Tofan's wife has also accused police personnel of beating her husband, leading to his death.

Banapur IIC Jayaprakash Parida, however, categorically denied any involvement of police personnel in the assault, stating that no police officer had beaten the deceased and that the investigation would establish the facts.

BJD demands probe

Reacting to the incident, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) launched a sharp attack on the state government over the law and order situation. Addressing a press conference, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that law and order in Odisha had deteriorated and claimed incidents of violence were becoming increasingly frequent.

Referring to the Banapur case, Mohanty cited the allegations made by the deceased's wife that her husband was beaten by police. He questioned the government's "We Care" policing slogan and alleged that innocent people were being subjected to police excesses. The BJD leader urged the Director General of Police (DGP) to intervene in the Banapur incident and ensure a fair investigation.

Police have maintained that their personnel were not involved in the assault and said the cause of death would be determined after the post-mortem report, CCTV analysis and completion of the investigation. The probe is continuing.