In a significant development, police in Cuttack district, Odisha, have arrested six individuals linked to the custodial death of Saroj Senapati, a 44-year-old man, nearly seven years after the incident. Among those arrested are two retired police officers, Bhagaban Sahoo and Pramod Kumar Patra, alongside two retired home guards and two serving home guards. The case dates back to December 9, 2016, when Senapati was detained at Narasinghpur police station following a complaint of assault. Reports indicate that he was subjected to severe torture during interrogation, leading to his death. Initially, police denied any wrongdoing, claiming Senapati died in a scuffle. However, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) intervened, prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death. The delay in arrests was attributed to the lengthy process of gathering evidence. Government records indicate that there have been 48 custodial deaths in Odisha from 2014 to 2024, raising concerns about police practices in the state.