Saturday 15 December 2012

Report on State Level Training Program for Human Rights Defenders

 Introduction

Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) are ordinary citizens of the country, who are determined to defend the democratic rights or civil liberties in the society. Mostly coming from the disadvantaged or marginalized class, their fight represent the urgency for establishment of rule of law. The presence and need of HRDs have been widely acknowledged by the governments across the world, at least in public for playing a pivotal role in building a just society.  However, in reality HRDs are deliberately suppressed, harassed and threatened by the state and non state actors for opposing and questioning their unlawful activities. The United Nations has acknowledged the role of human rights defenders in establishing a stronger democratic society. 
 Human rights defenders in India play a legitimate and essential role in protecting basic rights, monitoring implementation of right based programmes and strengthening democratic institutions. Charges against them are often politically motivated and intended primarily to discredit and stigmatize them individually and as a class. Unfounded criminal charges and other forms of harassment are damaging HRDs in many ways.
This came to the fore when the HRDs shared their plights at a two-day State-level training programme on 8-9 December 2012 at the CYSD,Bhubaneswar,Odisha,India organized by Human Rights Front(HRF) a coalition forum of HRDs, HR agencies and peoples’ organisations in the State, in association with National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) New Delhi.

Mr. Manoj Jena, Chairperson of HRF facilitated the two days program. Hundred of  defenders from different field throughout the state participated in the training.
Both the NHRC and the HRF have initiated a few programmes to develop the capacity of human rights defenders, mediapersons, Government officials and other key players in Odisha for promotion and protection of human rights as Manoj Jena said.                                                  
  
Objectives of the training was to..

  • Create Mass Awareness on SPEAK RIGHTS
  • Strengthen capacity of Human Rights Defenders  
  • Share challenges for human rights defenders in Odisha
  • Train on techniques of fact finding, Monitoring, Documenting & Intervention of a case
  • Account effective functioning of Human Rights Institutions (HRIs)
  •  Build up State wide Human Rights Defenders’ Network
  •  Create & Run a State level Human Rights Index Monitoring Cell
  • Advocate for a domestic law for HRDs
 Day 1 ( 8th December 2012)
Issues Covered       
  • Overview on forms of Human Rights violations in Odisha
  • Understanding human rights and its violations
  •  Challenges or risk faced by HRDs
  • Role & Responsibilities of HRDs
  •  Delivering good governance : The role of human rights defenders
  •  Fact Finding, Monitoring , Documentation & Intervention 
Dr. Bikash Das, who heads the Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP) a pioneer legal aid organisation of the State, had focused on the basic of human rights and the instruments to protect the human rights defenders. He also explained the international standards on human rights with the various covenants relates to it. Sky is the limit for a defender, if we can internalize over a case, then nothing to fear to fight against it as he suggested.

The NHRC core member of NGOs Mr.Baghambar Pattnaik shared his bonded labour encounter experience and appealed to the activists to utilise the human rights institutions in an effective manner as part of his lecture on roles and functions of human rights institutions.
Mild animals are killed where wild animals are protected, said Sanyasi Behera, the secretary of Odisha Association for Blind from his experience on case studies. Reasonable accommodation for disabled or handicapped is essential, he added. He lamented the govt. apartheid policies towards different able persons, how a disable person deprived in various quota system or reservation in the present context.

While Mr Dhirendra Panda an eminent defender of the State clarified about the wide range of violations happening in the State especially challenges facing by HRDs, the right to life, liberty, equality & dignity of the individual guaranteed by the constitution which are enforceable by the courts in India. It is said that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity & rights (Art 1), no one shall be subject to torture(Art 5),  no one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile(Art 9), right to work(Art 23), right to education(Art 26), prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour(Art 23) but these laws and rules are not followed often it has been violated by the State actors.
In most of the cases, the human rights institutions function is not satisfactory said Mr Pradip Pradhan, a known RTI defender and convenor of Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan. He explained his experience working with Odisha Information Commission where most of the cases closed without valid reasons. Since few years, the RTI defenders of the state have been harassed, tortured or intimidated both by state and non state actors. He has given few RTI activists case studies and suggested few things how to monitor the human rights institutions for playing a effective role.
 Mr Chandranath Dani, an Advocate with well versed with human rights laws took a practical class on fact finding, monitoring, documentation and intervention. He thoroughly taught about the various sources of information (primary and secondary), how and whom to be fact finded (victim, perpetrator, witness, officials), the process of monitoring of case and where to intervene it(legal and meta-legal intervention)  He was assisted by District Human Rights Monitor of HRF Mr Somnath Pattnaik. The participants were divided in groups and task was given how to write a statement basis on a case as fact-finded.
The first day program ended with vote of thanks .

Day 2 ( 9th December 2012)
Issues Covered
  • Role of NHRIs/SHRIs for safeguarding Human Rights
  • Redressal Mechanisms ( Domestic & International)
  • Use of ICT for making urgent appeal and documenting evidences;
  • Follow-up Action Plan
The theme for this year’s International Human Rights Day (December 10) was ‘My Voice Counts’, but in real sense the voice of the human rights defenders (HRDs) who have been fighting for justice and individual rights to the poor people is being increasingly suppressed, may it by the State or non-State powers

With every passing day, torture and harassment against human rights defenders is on the rise in the State indicating a red signal for democracy. The activists fight for the poor people protecting their rights and in the process many times, face hurdles from the State administration, including the police and local goons. So, stringent law should be adopted for human rights defenders’ security and for providing them a legal framework to fight as per the provisions of the Constitution said Manoj Jena, Chairperson of HRF while memorizing the importance of the 9th December he further said the day is being observed as International Human Rights Defenders day as for the first time UN passed a resolution in General Assembly to adopt a 20 points declaration on human rights defenders.

Though India signed the UN Declaration 1998 for human rights defenders, it is not ratified yet and even the whistleblower protection Bill is yet to be passed. “So, either the UN Declaration is to be ratified or the protection Bill, which is already drafted, should be passed at the earliest,” he demanded. 
Attending the programme, NHRC National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Focal point for Human Rights Defenders Mr. Anil Kumar  Parasar said the number of cases is on the rise in Odisha. Till now nearly 5,000 cases has come to NHRC from Odisha while the figure is expected to touch 6,000 in the current financial year which is not a good sign in a democratic set-up.
The NHRC is the only human rights institution of the world who establishes a focal point for human rights defenders said Mr Parashar. He briefly narrated the roles and functions of NHRC especially the intervention mechanism.
He also appealed to the defenders to put pressure on the State Government so as to make the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) more effective by recruiting adequate manpower and providing proper infrastructure and financial support.
He made it clear that the SHRC and the NHRC are individual entities with their independent jurisdictions. However, he assured to extend all kinds of support to the State-level human rights institutions for creating more awareness at the grassroots level.
Dr. Lelin Raghuvanshi, eminent international HRD and the executive director of Peoples Vigilance Committe on Human Rights (PVCHR) Varanashi, UP stressed the urgent need to create a human defenders’ network at the national level to address the issues quite fast and effectively which would be more helpful towards the society. He also suggested using modern technology and internet to intervene the cases.

The last session brought out a concrete road map of defenders network in odisha by the defenders themselves with the following plan of actions, which was also presented to Mr AK Parashar who represented from NHRC.

Follow-up Action:                

§  Formation of District level defenders committees
§   Increase number of Trained Human Rights Defenders
§  Monitoring functions of human rights institutions
§  Endeavour to address every right violated
§  Accelerate  Human Rights Index Monitoring Process 
§  Translation of various education and communication materials in regional language.
§  Publishing of  State annual human rights status report


Sunday 25 November 2012

NHRC seeks report on Bhaliguda encounter

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/nhrc-seeks-report-on-bhaliguda-encounter/article4132650.ece
STAFF REPORTER
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked for reports regarding encounter between security forces and Maoists on November 14 in Bhaliaguda Ganjam-Gajapati district border of Odisha.
Five killed
Five persons had were killed in the encounter. Manoj Jena, chairperson of an NGO named Human Rights Front (HRF) of Bhubaneswar had lodged a complaint regarding the encounter before the NHRC on November 15.
Mr Jena had also forwarded a copy of fact finding report by members of Odisha Sarvodaya Samaj (OSS) regarding the encounter. The OSS fact finding team had requested investigation of the matter by either the judiciary or the NHRC.
The NHRC has sent copies of the compliant from HRF along with the enclosures to the to the Director General of Police (DGP),
Inquiry
The NHRC has directed that the magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem report along with report of independent investigation had to be submitted to the Commission within eight weeks.
A copy of the complaint along with its enclosures was also sent to the Chief Secretary of Odisha government for taking appropriate action in reference to the grievances of the villagers raised in the fact finding report of the OSS.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Jena said he hoped intervention of the NHRC would reveal the truth behind the encounter in Bhaliaguda jungle.
Demonstration
Meanwhile social and human rights activists were planning for a demonstration before Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Nov 30 to press upon for a proper independent enquiry into the Bhaliaguda encounter.
The NHRC has sent copies of the compliant from HRF along with the enclosures to the to the Director General of Police

Probe Gajapati Maoists killing, report in 8 weeks: NHRC to DGP


The National Human Rights Commission directed the State Director General of Police (DGP) to take steps to undertake an independent investigation into the killing of five Maoists in a police encounter at Valiaguda in Gajapati district as per the NHRC guidelines and send the action taken report within eight weeks.
The Magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem report, along with report of independent investigation should be submitted to the commission within eight weeks, told a communiqué of the NHRC to the DGP taking cognizance of a complaint by NGO Human Rights Front, Bhubaneswar.
The complainant Manoj Jena, who is the chairman of the NGO, had drawn the attention of the NHRC to the death of the five ultras in a fake encounter with police in Gajapati district on November 14 last. He had also forwarded a copy of the fact finding report by the Odisha Sarvodaya Samaj, which had urged for a judiciary probe or by the NHRC.
Meanwhile, the commission received intimation from the State Government regarding the encounter death. The NHRC, pursuing the complaint on November 22 last, had also sent the copy of the complaint along with its enclosures to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Gajapati to take appropriate action. According to the NHRC sources, the copy of the complaint along with its enclosures has also been sent to the State Chief Secretary for taking appropriate action in reference to the grievances of the villagers raised in the fact finding report of the Odisha Sarvodaya Samaj.

Monday 9 July 2012

Dalit Human Rights Defender at Risk

                     
Pratap stands left
Pratap Kandi, a young dalit human rights defender who is the secretary of Anusuchita Jati O Jana Jati Bikash Sangathan of Konark in Puri district of Odisha sought Odisha Human Rights Commission’s intervention to protect his life with other family members on today with the help of Human Rights Front [HRF]

Mr Kandi is leading the dalit human rights movements in the adjacent blocks of Konark, he often takes the atrocity cases to various human rights bodies, during the NHRC open public hearing at Puri in last April, he filed many atrocity cases with victims at the camp and incase of Pipili gang rape victim’s case  he organized many rallies and protest in different parts of the district which was perhaps intolerable for Puri police subsequently the local Police Inspector Incharge of Konark PS Mr. Prakash Rath threatened him for any dire consequences.

On 6th July, the police forcibly arrested his two brothers with false cases then forwarded to court, unable to find Pratap there, the police abused his parents in slag languages and threatened to arrest his son soon .


Sunday 1 July 2012


                  MAHILA ADHIKAR SIKSHYA SIBIRA (MASS)

               District Level Sensitization Program on Women Rights
                       
Human Rights Front [HRF] and Odisha State Commission for Women jointly organized  one day district level sensitization program on women rights titled as Mahila Adhikar Sikshya Sibira[MASS] on 30th June 2012 at Hotel Royal Kalinga, Vyasanagar,Jajpur,Odisha.

The program started with an inaugural lecture followed by open discussion. The guest speakers were, Chairperson, Odisha State Commission for Women Dr Jyoti Panigrahi and Member Mrs Sunanda Pati, Dr Dipak Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Jajpur, District Social Welfare Officer Mrs  Snehanjali Pattnaik, Vyasanagar Municipality chairperson Mrs.Bandita Parida and Dr Lalita Rout, Prinicipal, Indira Gandhi Womens College. The meeting was presided by Mr Manoj Jena, Chairperson, Human Rights Front.
Dr Jyoti Panigrahi, Chairperson,SWC

The violence against women is increasing day by day in Odisha, the administration and judicial system fails to provide due justice to the tortured victims said Dr Panigrahi. She further stressed the justice delivery institutions should function proactive while dealing with such sensational cases. When women are already projected their leadership in various Panchayatiraj institutions after getting fifty percentage of reservation then why the same reservation status will not be provided in assembly and parliament she lamented .

Dr Dipak Kumar, SP
Women education and sensitization, proper implementation of poverty alleviation programmes, economy independence etc. are the key factors for materializing women rights said Dr Dipak Kumar. Trafficking and Sexual Abuses are the heinous crime against women that the society should introspect while becoming a developed State he stressed. He also made the participants understand about various laws related to women rights like reproductive rights, domestic violence act, dowery prohibition act,  property rights, SC & ST atrocity act etc. that safeguarding the rights of women.
 
In the beginning Mr Manoj Jena briefed about the objectives of such kinds of sibira and said ten districts will be covered under this pilot project. The main motto is to access the various human rights institutions like women commission to the underprivileged people of the rural and backward areas so that they can avail justice easily which will help to minimize the violence against women as well as aware about their basic rights.
Mrs Majulata Deo is being  felicitating

 
On this occasion few women leaders and advocate of women cause were felicitated by the guests. More than three hundreds women leaders of different categories of all ten blocks and two municipalities of the districts were participated in the program. The program was coordinated by key leaders of both Jajpur Ekta Manch and Human Rights Front like Mr Akshya Jena, Mrs Surekha Malik, Mr. Gayadhar Malik, Mr Rabindra Rout and Mr Sandip Mohanty.

Sunday 10 June 2012

 Family seeks CBI probe into ‘custody torture death’

BHUBANESWAR: Family members of Kuldeep Mahapatra, who allegedly died after torture in police custody on June 5, on Saturday demanded a CBI probe into the incident and suspension of inspector Alok Jena even as the commissionerate police transferred the latter from Saheed Nagar. "We shifted him (Alok Jena) to ensure a fair probe," said DCP Nitinjeet Singh. Jena swapped places with Chandrasekharpur inspector (traffic) K P Mishra. 
Mahapatra's family alleged that police wasted crucial time in presenting Kuldeep in front of media instead of shifting him to hospital. "Police tortured him to death. But assuming that he was beaten up by a mob as police are saying now, they should have rushed him to the hospital instead of parading him before the media," his father Rabindra Nath Mahapatra said. 
The family members and human rights activists were speaking to reporters on the alleged custodial torture leading to death. "Had police allowed him to drink even a glass of water after beating him, he may not have died," his mother Manjubala said. "I saw my son's badly bruised body had severe injury marks on his private parts and neck. His toes were almost severed. Thick clots of blood were apparent on his chest," she said. 
Human Rights Front chairperson Manoj Jena said there were lot of inconsistencies in the police version of the event. "According to police, people handed over Kuldeep to them on the morning of June 5. Instead of sending him for treatment, police waited to present him at a press conference to reveal how the victim was involved in extortion masquerading as a policeman. Around 2.45 pm that day, the DCP told the media that he was forwarded to court. However, around the same time doctors in Capital Hospital declared him brought dead," Jena told reporters. "Even if he was an extortionist, police had no licence to kill him," he added. 
In a press release, Human Rights Front (HRF) said it suspected that Kuldeep was tortured in custody for several days leading to his death because of his "past enmity" with inspector Alok Jena. 
During the press conference on Saturday, policemen were seen prompting questions to certain journalists directed at the deceased's criminal past while another section of cops were present just outside the venue, briefing media about police innocence in the matter.

CBI probe into city custodial death case demanded

The Human Rights Front (HRF) on Saturday demanded a CBI inquiry into the Saheednagar police station custodial death case. It alleged that Kuldeep Mohapatra died in the custody due to severe torture by police officials.
At a Press meet here, HRF president Manoj Jena said the statement which was given by the police at a news conference on June 5 about Kuldeep for impersonating as a special squad inspector and extorting money was totally baseless. Even any attack on Kuldeep by locals was also an imaginary story made out by the IIC of the police station, they added.
On the other hand, the members said the locals denied the charge of beating Kuldeep. They said that they did not have any idea about the incident on that particular place said by the police. The HRF members questioned that why the police delayed in treatment of the deceased if he was attacked by the locals. According to the police, he was severely injured during their rescue in the morning time. Then, why the IIC, Alok Jena, called a Press conference at the afternoon without admitting him in the hospital. This was open violation of the NHRC guidelines, the members added.
The HRF said the police have failed to maintain the Supreme Court guideline to prepare an 'Arrest Memo' first and then an 'Inspection Memo' in the case of an injured person along with signatures of the culprit, witness and the police officer, which was not properly maintained in this case by the police station officials. The police had informed the family members of Kuldeep after his death instead of informing his family after the arrest which violates the guidelines of arrest, they added. According to Rabindranath Mohapatra, father of the deceased, who along with other family members were present at the HRF meeting, IIC Jena had arrested his son in a loot case falsely in 2010 when he was the IIC of the Lingaraj police station. We had filed a petition in the High Court, the State Human Rights Commission and the SDJM Court the illegal arrest and it was the reason behind the death of Kuldeep, he added.
Besides a CBI inquiry, the HRF demanded suspension and stringent action against IIC Jena and the police officers who were on duty and adequate compensation for the deceased's family.
Among others, Ambedkar Lohia Bichar Manch president Pratap Sahu, Odisha Pragati Mahila Manch convener Mamata Samantray and HRF member Sandeep Mohnaty were present.

Victim’s kin cry foul play, Sahid Nagar IIC shunted

By Express News Service - BHUBANESWAR
10th June 2012 08:58 AM
Even as IIC of Saheed Nagar Police Station Alok Jena has been transferred pending investigation in the alleged custodial death of Kuldeep Mohapatra, the family members of the deceased on Saturday came down heavily on the Commissionerate Police. The kin alleged violation of NHRC guidelines by police and demanded a CBI probe.
Kuldeep’s father Rabindra Nath Mohapatra said the claim of police that his son was demanding extortion from truckers was only to cover up the whole episode. There is a mismatch between what the police said and what actually happened near Maharaja Theatre where the incident reportedly occurred in the small hours of Tuesday.
“While police claimed that his son was received-dead at Capital Hospital at 2.45 pm, it was around the same time Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh told TV channels that Kuldeep was being produced at a local court. How did these two happen simultaneously?’’ he wondered addressing mediapersons here on Saturday.
As per Supreme Court guidelines, police should have prepared an Arrest Memo after taking into custody an accused but it was not done. Similarly, an Inspection Memo should also have been prepared in which signatures of the accused as well as witnesses are to be put. A copy of the same is to be supplied to the accused, but all these provisions were violated and the family was informed only after Kuldeep’s death, his wife Swagatika Mohapatra said.
The family also charged the police with framing Kuldeep since Jena was allegedly nursing a grudge against him.
Interestingly, the media conference had been infiltrated by plainclothes police officials too. Special Branch officials as well as local police were seen trying to prompt questions on criminal antecedents of Kuldeep.
With the controversy refusing to die down, Police Commissioner Sunil Roy has transferred Jena to Traffic Police, Chandrasekharpur, to facilitate an impartial inquiry into the case. In his place, Traffic Inspector K P Mishra has been posted.

Rights activists cry foul over custodial death


Independent investigation can alone bring out the truth, they say

Human rights activist here on Saturday alleged that the Commissionerate of Police handled critical heath conditions of Kuldip Mohapatra, an accused, in utterly insouciant manner which ultimately led to his death.

Addressing a press conference here, activists under the banner of the Human Rights Front said had the police reacted to critical condition of Kuldip, who was in the custody of Sahid Nagar police for several hours, he would not have died.

Family members, who were also present in the press briefing, alleged that police were trying to give an impression that Kuldip succumbed to injuries after being reportedly beaten up by the crowd.

“But, fact remained that my son was inhumanly tortured in police custody. He was denied medical attention. The Commissionerate police were busy boasting its achievement before media persons. However, it did not feel essential to take my son to a hospital,” alleged Rabindra Nath Mohaptra, father of deceased.

Kuldip's mother, Manjubala Mohapatra, was inconsolable. She alleged that had the police offered a glass of water to her son when his condition deteriorated, he would have lived a few hours more in his life. Manjubala also alleged, “body of my son carried several critical injury marks in his toes, neck, waist and private parts. Now we are determined to fight against cruelty of police towards accused in the custody.”

The Commissionerate police refused to meet the delegation, said Manoj Jena of HRF.
“As Commissionerate Police would find it difficult to wipe out the custodial death slur, we suspect it would reconstruct the whole case to save its own skin. An independent investigating agency such as CBI should be entrusted to probe the matter,” Mr. Jena demanded.

Family members and rights activist also questioned the role of Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitinjit Singh. “Surprisingly, at around 2.45 pm on Tuesday, DCP told media persons that Kuldip had been forwarded to court. But, at the same time doctors at Capital Hospital declared him brought dead,” the HRF member said. Family members vowed to take the fight against Commissionerate police to logical end.

Meanwhile, Alok Jena, inspector in charge of Sahid Nagar police station, who was in the eye of storm following allegations of victim's family member that he had tortured the accused, had been transferred.

Wednesday 16 May 2012


Rights violation cases go up in Jajpur district


At least 200 innocent dalits and tribals of Jajpur district and its nearby areas have been languishing in the jails as the authorities with an ulterior motive branded them as Maoists, alleged chairperson of Human Rights Front Manoj Jena. He was addressing mediapersons here on Monday.
In the name of development, he said, the local administrators are always politicising the issues. The tribals are being cheated through denial of social and economic rights. Often, these tribals are tortured and exploited by the police allegedly because they are Maoists.
To save themselves from the Maoist threat, many officers do not report for duty; instead they try to get themselves transferred to another zone with the help of political leaders. Therefore, several Government departments function with depleted staff. On their part, the Maoists are trying to persuade innocent and illiterate villagers to join their cadre, Jena said.
Niece of Jatindra 
Jena alleged that the police are committing atrocities on tribals and dalits in Jajpur during search operations and harassing and beating innocent tribals on the plea of flushing out Red rebels.
He also alleged that the police have detained several tribals for questioning and they could be killed in fake encounter. Muralidhar Patra, a local leader and human right activist, was illegally arrested by the police in a clear nexus with some officials last year as he opposed large-scale irregularities in NREGA works and illegal quarry in the Teloki area.
Manoj Jena,HRF & Gayadhar Mallik, JEM
Several tribals present at the meet alleged that forest officials have been illegally foisting cases of poaching on many villagers with an ill intention to harass them.
Jena said tribal people’s rights being part of the broad human rights phenomena, has acquired significance in recent times. As human beings, the people who live in tribal lands acquire a similar set of rights like others. Being citizens of the country, they are entitled to a number of privileges as well.
The press meet was also addressed by president of Jajpur Ekta Manch Gayadhar Mallick and human rights activists Rabindra Rout, Dr Manzoor Ali, Akshay Jena and Surekha Mallick.
 Human Rights violation clocks high: Activists


Jajpur: Even as the Rio de Janerio Declaration on Environment and Development, adopted on 14th June, 1992 by the United Nations conference proclaims that states should recognize and duly support indigenous peoples’ identity, culture and interest and enable their participation in the achievement of sustainable development, it is alleged that nearly 200 innocent dalits and tribals of Jajpur district and its nearby areas have been languishing in the jail.
Kishore Jena speaks about his pain

“The tribals are being cheated and denied their social and economic rights. Police are also harassing and beating innocent tribals in the name of flushing out rebels”, said
chairperson Human Rights Front Manoj Jena while addressing media persons here. He also further alleged that police are committing atrocities on tribals and dalits in Jajpur during search operations.

Police have also arrested some dalits and tribals like Biswanath Patra, Kishor Jena , Jatindra Jena a former Sarapanch of Anakana Gram Pannyat under Badachana block in jajpur district , Muralidhar Patra and Maguni Jena by branding them as Maoists, added Jena. The press meet was also addressed by Gayadhar Mallick the president of Jajpur Ekta Manch and many human right activists.

Likewise, many tribals of the district allege that the forest officials have been illegally foisting cases of poaching against villagers with an ill intention to harass them. The press meet was also addressed by Gayadhar Mallick, the president of Jajpur Ekta Manch and many human right activists.

Sunday 29 April 2012

ODISHA HR BULLETIN-12


NHRC rap for atrocities on SCs

BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission on Monday took a swipe at the state government for its inept handling of cases relating to atrocities on Scheduled Caste people in the state.
The NHRC member, Satyabrat Pal, made the observation of Odisha's poor show in safeguarding the interest of the SC people in an open hearing at Puri. Nearly 300 people from different parts of the state thronged to express their grievances.

"The state government did not show enough sensitivity to address the plight of the SCs. Even the last year's CAG report had severely criticized state's poor handling of cases," Pal told TOI at Bhubaneswar. Shortly after wrapping up the open hearing at Puri, Pal held discussions with several voluntary organizations at Bhubaneswar in the evening.

At the open hearing, first of its kind in Odisha, Pal received a flurry of complaints against state police and district collectors for failing to provide justice to the SCs. The victims, mostly bonded labourers, narrated their plight at the hands of police, who work hand-in-gloves with their tormentors (upper caste people).
"Police scared us away when we approached them for help. We faced social boycott recently. Our life had not improved till today," said Kelu Sethi, a complainant from Puri's Brahmagiri area, where the retrograde practice of bonded labour and untouchability is at its peak.

While the commission heard 72 cases, he accepted the complaints of around 200 other people for consideration. "We will analyze and seek reports from the state government," Pal said.
At Bhubaneswar, the commission member was apprised of the sensational Pipili rape incident. The Dalit girl's brother narrated his sister's plight and sought assistance. The commission said it cannot interfere at this point of time as the case is already being inquired by the National Commission for Scheduled Caste, sources said
.
Like the open hearing session, Pal received lots for complaints against the state government and police from various NGOs he interacted with at Bhubaneswar. "The government failed to address the issues of the Scheduled Castes. The commission should take action against the erring government employees," Prafulla Samantaray, a human rights activist said.

Pal is scheduled to visit the proposed Posco site in Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday. He will visit Balangir district on April 11 and meet senior state government officials, including chief secretary and DGP on April 12.

Homoeopathy students move state rights panel

BHUBANESWAR: Students of the government-run Abhin Chandra Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital here on Friday filed a petition with the state human rights commissionalleging use of expired medicines in the hospital. The authorities were doing nothing about it, they alleged. 

In their petition signed by 19 students, the students said the matter came to light on March 24 when one of the students, B G R Nayak, met with a road accident. "Just when a medicine was being administered to him, I noticed that its expiry date was long gone. Moreover, it was an allopathic formulation though ours is a homoeopathic hospital," said Nayak. Nayak also pointed out "callousness" of the doctors in diagnosing him as the hospital mentioned in medical reports that he had an injury on his thumb, whereas he had actually injured his left toe. 

The students contended that if there were such glaring mistakes in the treatment of one of the students, the case must have been worse with general public. 

In the petition, the homoeopaths mentioned that the college principal had sought three days' time from March 26 to inquire into the matter. The deadline expired on Thursday. 

They further said though it was a model college, academic standards were very low owing to inadequate teaching staff. When they staged peaceful protests seeking appointment of faculty members, they were issued warning letters with false charges, the students alleged. 

Nayak, who is also the students' union general secretary, said the hospital lacks even basic things such as cotton wool and first aid material. 

Principal P K Behera, when contacted, said a three-member committee is inquiring into the alleged use of expired allopathic medicine in the hospital. The committee would submit their findings to the Director, Indian System of Medicine, soon. 

10-yr jail for man who forced fatal illegal abortion

BALASORE: A local court has sentenced a man to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment for carrying out illegal abortion of his wife leading to her death.

Pronouncing the judgement, additional district sessions judge of fast-track court, Balasore, R K Sahu yesterday also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on convict Kanhucharan Jena of Anantapur under Soro police station.

The prosecution said Jena had forced his wife Subasini Moharana to undergo abortion in 1999 even after six months of pregnancy.

In another case, a former ASI of police was sentenced to three years RI along with Rs 10,000 fine and in default of payment four months more by the special vigilance court here yesterday.

Convict Bibhutibhusan Nayak was caught while taking a bribe of Rs 4,000 from one person to drop a case against him in 2001 when the former was posted in Bhandraripokhari police station in Bhadrak.


Two killed, 17 injured in police firing in Kodala

Two persons were killed and more than 17 persons injured, five of them critically, in police firing at Phasipada village under Kodala police station in Ganjam district about 41 km from here on Saturday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a judicial inquiry into the incident in the evening.
The "unfortunate" incident happened when an angry mob of villagers, who had earlier tonsured and held four persons of the village in captivity for allegedly practising sorcery, attacked the police force by throwing bombs and stones. To disperse the mob, the police started firing after tear gas shells failed to control the situation, sources said.
The two deceased persons were identified as Purna Chandra Pala and Rabi Pala of the village. They were rushed to the MKCG Medical College hospital here, where they were declared brought dead. Sixteen other persons including women were under treatment in the hospital. The conditions of five were stated to be critical. One from among them has been referred to the SCB Medical College hospital at Cuttack, Ganjam Collector Dr Krishan Kumar told The Pioneer.
"While they were returning after rescuing four persons including a woman from the clutches of the villagers, the unfortunate incident happened," said Ganjam Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandit.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik immediately ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. Ganjam Sessions Judge will probe the whole issue.
Patnaik also declared ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. He also announced free medical treatment to the injured.
According to sources, the villagers had started a ritual in the village to find out the persons, allegedly practising sorcery, by using the cot movement technique. They picked up four persons- Bhima Nahak, Banamali Nahak, Trinath Nahak and a woman Godhi Pal. The villagers tonsured the four persons who were also allegedly fed human excreta in the full glare of the villagers. They were kept under strict vigil. One of the victims Bhima Nahak escaped on Friday night and informed the police about the incident.
Based on victim Bhima’s FIR, the police on Sunday noon reached the village and started rescuing the other three, but the villagers did not allow the police officials to reach them which first led to a scuffle and then a clash that
continued for two hours. To control the irate mob, the police force and the ODRAF team started lobbing tear gas shells to which the mob retaliated with stones and bombs, the police alleged. The police then resorted to firing shots to control the situation but ended up killing two and injuring many.
Southern Range DIG RK Sharma, SP Rajesh Pandit and Collector Dr Krishan Kumar rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation. Four platoons of police force have been deployed in the village. The situation is tense but under control, police sources said.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the killing of two persons in police firing in Kodala as unfortunate and termed tonsuring of four persons at Phasipada village as a barbaric and tragic incident. “I’m shocked by the truly barbaric act and the firing in Kodala is unfortunate. The situation is under control,” Patnaik said.
Over 1.22 lakh children disabled: Report

BHUBANESWAR: Over 1.22 lakh children in the age-group of six to 14 years in the state are disabled, a government report said.
The data collected under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA), a national programme for universalizing primary education, for the year 2012-13 says disabled children constitute 1.91% of the total child population in the particular age group, covered under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, numbering around 64.35 lak0h.
Of the 1.22 lakh disabled children, 1.19 lakh attend schools while 27,000 of them are not enrolled. To bring the disabled children to schools and mainstream them, SSA has appointed 30 inclusive education (IE) coordinators for each of the 30 districts in the state, around 600 block resource teachers (BRT) at block level and IE volunteers at panchayat level.
The special children include 28,000 orthopedically impaired, 20,000 mentally challenged, 21,000 hearing impaired, 14,000 speech impaired, 7,000 suffering multiple disability and 6,000cerebral palsy patients, among others. Ganjam has the highest 9,000 differently-abled children, followed by Balasore (8,700), while Boudh has the lowest 1,300 of them.
The SSA report puts the number of autistic children at only 661. Those working in the field of disability say autism may be underreported because of low awareness about it. Swarna Mishra, chairperson Autism Therapy Centre, said some parents are hesitant to accept the fact in case their children are autistic. "They should admit the truth early so that there can be early intervention," she said.

Superstition 'torture' in Ganjam villages
Berhampur: Godhi Pala and three others are the latest victims of superstition. They had been tonsured, had their teeth pulled out and forced to swallow human excreta before being paraded naked in Ganjam's Phasipada village recently because villagers believed they were sorcerers.
Similar was the fate of Hema Swain (60) of a village near Patapur. She was tied to a tree and beaten up before being driven out of the village last year because villagers believed she was a witch. In another incident, six women from Kumarapari village within Khallikote police limits were branded with iron rods because villagers felt they were responsible for some deaths and outbreak of disease.
Human right activists and police said many people in rural areas are victimized for blind beliefs. Sixteen such cases were recorded in the district in the last three months. Besides Kodala and Khallikote, such incidents were reported from Sorada, Badagada, Patapur, Gangapur and Tarasingi police limits.
Ignorance, illiteracy, ill-health and blind beliefs are responsible for such incidents, said Simanchal Bisoi, an advocate and human rights activist, quoting a study of Andhra Pradesh-based Atheist Centre. Politics is also responsible for spurt in such incidents, a senior police officer said. Most of these are acts of revenge, he added.
Some persons from Nayagarh district, who claim to be practitioners of Khatavidya, a superstitious practice to detect black magic, are invited and paid huge amounts by the village committees to identify witches. "They are responsible for the spurt in this kind of crime," said Sudhir Sabat, an social activist.

Mid-day meal workers agitate for 'basic necessities'
BHUBANESWAR: Mid-day meal workers of the state are on a warpath, opposing contract system, outsourcing of work and demanding salary hike. About 5,000 women workers, who are instrumental in implementing the Central government scheme launched to check malnutrition among school children, staged a demonstration in front of the Assembly on Monday.
"Scores of women, who cook the meals for school children, have been deprived of basic necessities themselves. Our work condition is pathetic. While the Central government has earmarked Rs 1,000 per month for the workers, they are only being paid a measly amount of Rs 300-400 per month, that too irregularly. We have informed the government about our problems but no action has been taken yet. If things do not improve and the government fails to fulfill our demands by the next academic session, we will go on an indefinite protest," said president of Odisha Mid-day Meal Workers' Union, Radharaman Sarangi.
Besides, the workers said they do not receive ration supply for months on end sometimes. Most schools still do not have a proper place for cooking meals and drinking water is also scarce. "We have no social security or even a minimum wage even after 10 years of work," said Jayanti Sahu, a MDM worker from Puri district. She also alleged that the state government is sidelining the workers by outsourcing work to private organizations and NGOs.
Some of the workers' demands include all BPL workers to be included in BPL list, two pairs of sarees in a year, washing allowance, identity card, first-aid box, LPG gas for cooking, 180 days of maternity leave and so on.

Govt doing everything to check MNREGA irregularities: Minster

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/55270-govt-doing-everything-to-check-mnrega-irregularities-minster.html
Alleging large scale irregularities in the implementation of the Union Government’s flagship programme, Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the State, the opposition on Wednesday demanded that the Odisha Government should extend the ongoing CBI probe to all the remaining 26 districts.
However, Panchayati Raj Minister Maheswar Mohanty rejected the allegation. Since the charges of large scale corruption as levelled by the Center for Environmental Studies and Food Security was being probed by the CBI pertaining to six districts following the order of the Supreme Court, the State Government would not hesitate to extend the probe by the central agency to rest of the districts, provided the Apex court issues a direction to the effect.
“We are open to any probe, the Minister said while replying to a debate on the admissibility of an adjournment motion on the allegation of rampant corruption in the MGNREGA,” the Minister said.
Stating that the Social Audit System in the MGNREGA needs to be strengthened to check irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the job scheme, he said that the State Government has decided to create a Separate Social Audit Directorate. However, he said that for impartial and just social audit of the implementation of the job scheme for the poor, the State Government has already registered Odisha Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency. The annual social audit is being conducted through the Gram Sabha.
Mohanty said the State Government has already taken action against 658 Government and non-Government officials. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against 47 officials, action taken against 161persons U/S 25 and departmental proceedings has been initiated against 304 Government servants, he said. Even Rs 17.03 lakh has already been recovered from 146 officials while Vigilance cases have been registered against 239 persons for omission and commission.
Referring to the allegation of former District Collector of Nuapada misusing the MGNRGS fund for gardening, the Minister said the State Government would take exemplary action in the case only after receiving the direction of the Supreme Court.
Participating in the debate, the opposition Congress and BJP members alleged that the MGNRGS had failed in Odisha due to large scale corruption and irregularities and accused the State Government of abetting the crime and shielding the persons involved in corrupt practices. Pointing out that work was being done without the approval of the Gram Sabha, they said that the job work was only carried out in pen and paper and by resorting to issuing job cards in the name of dead persons.

State records impressive under-5 mortality decline

For the first time, Odisha’s under-5 mortality decline has surpassed the national average decline rate during 2009-10.
The State recorded the second highest drop in the under-5 mortality after Madhya Pradesh during this period.
In Odisha, the under-5 mortality declined by six points from 84 in 2009 to 78 in 2010, which is higher than the national average decline of five points ( 64 in 2009 to 59 in 2010).
Within a span of seven years from 1998-99 to 2005-06, Odisha had recorded a drop of only 13.8 points whereas within one year (2009 to 2010) it recorded a sharp decline of six points.
Among the States, Assam recorded the highest overall under-5 mortality rate - 83 deaths per 1,000 live births followed by Madhya Pradesh (82), Uttar Pradesh (79), Odisha (78), Rajasthan (69), Bihar (64) and Chhattisgarh (61). Since the launching of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the under-5 mortality declined from 90.6 in 2005 to 78 in 2010.
Interventions under the NRHM include Integrated Management of Newborn and Child Health Illness. Under this, the focus has been to improve case management of illnesses amongst 0-5 years’ children including severe malnutrition. Home visits are provided by ANM, AWW and ASHA to every newborn on days 1, 3 and 7 and for LBW babies three more visits are undertaken.
Counselling for breastfeeding and supplementary feeding and immunisation, recognition of risk conditions and management / referrals are implemented in 20 identified high IMR districts of Keonjhar, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Subarnapur, Boudh, Gajapati, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Baleswar, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jajpur & Ganjam.

Siksha Adhikar Abhijan launched


BHUBANESWAR: Siksha Adhikar Abhijan was launched in the primary schools of the State recently to create awareness on the Right to Education Act (RTE).

  The campaign was launched by the School and Mass Education (S & ME) Department to create a greater awareness on the RTE. There are numerous clauses under the act that many people are not aware of. The purpose of this campaign is to create an awareness about how a student can avail of the free primary education at the primary schools that they are entitled to. The campaign is a part of the ‘Siksha Ka Haq Abhiyan’ launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development with the sole purpose of spreading the basic information about the RTE. A “Pravesh Utsav” was also organised to mark the begining of the campaign in the state.
  The State Government has planned to create a State Working Group that will operate directly under the S & ME Minister Pratap Jena. New enrolments of students will also be made under this campaign to Sri Aurobinda Upper Primary School under the Bhubaneswar block. Those enrolled will also be provided with new books for the academic session 2012-13.
  A framework has been created and discussions are on to create an action plan with NGO networks and volunteers to carry forward the campaign.
Around 30 volunteers will be selected from every block who will carry on discussions with the school and village community. The campaign will enable the village community and the school managements in identifying the requirements to implement RTE.

Panchayat members demand freedom for Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh activists
KORAPUT: Even when the MLA's hostage crisis is yet to make any headway, around two dozen elected panchayat representatives, including zilla parishad member Juro Mouka, from Maoist-hit Narayanpatna block staged a dharana at the collectorate on Monday, demanding withdrawal of cases against president of Maoist-backed Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) Nachika Linga and other jailed members of the Sangh, among others.
"We demand the withdrawal of cases against Linga and other members of the Sangh. The CMAS activists have been arrested on false charges and they have to be freed unconditionally," said Mouka, reportedly a CMAS-backed candidate, who won the lone ZP seat of Narayanpanta uncontested in the recent panchayat polls.
The agitators also demanded return of tribal land taken away by non-tribals, to make the region a liquor-free zone, to end the prevailing bonded labour system in the area and tribal status for Noka Dora, Konda Dora and Jhodia communities.
The demands of the elected representatives were the same as that of CMAS, which according to the state government is a frontal organization of the CPI ( Maoist). Sources said the panchayati raj members staged the dharna on the direction of the Sangh to pressurize the government to meet its demands.
"We held discussions with the agitators regarding their demands and have appealed to them to call off the dharna," said Koraput collector Sachin Jadhav.
After the panchayat polls, the CMAS is said to have entered into a pact with the BJD to support it in zilla parishad in Koraput where both the Congress and the ruling party ended with 14 ZP seats each, out of 29 ZP seats in the district.
Besides, for over 10 days now, at least 25 families of Narayanpatna have been campaigning at the collectorate, demanding release of their men, who they alleged were arrested on false charges as they are CMAS activists.

Maoist cadre killed in Keonjhar

KEONJHAR: A Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter in Keonjhar district on Tuesday. He is yet to be identified. Police have seized three guns, three kitbags, tiffin box, posters and leaflets from him. The incident took place near Mundatopa village within Kanjipani police limits during a joint operation by CRPF, Special Operations Group, Keonjhar and Angul police.
The securitymen came across the Maoists group in Mundatopa forest. The Red rebels allegedly fired at the policemen and the cops returned the fired in which one extremist died. DIG (Rourkela) Y Jethwa said "The Maoist group fired at police team first. In defence cops fired back killing one." Police are yet to seize the body as the magistrate has not reached the spot because of inaccessibility.
Slain 'rebel's' wife claims he was a trucker
KEONJHAR: Amin Lohar, the man who was killed by police on Tuesday on the charge of being a Maoist, was actually a trucker, his wife has claimed. According to her, Lohar had gone to Kaliapani area to inquire about mining activities, where he was shot by police.
Loha's wife Mamata and sister Minati arrived at the Keonjhar burial ground on Friday night, where police were trying to bury him. Amin hailed from Kaliapani area and had been residing at Baraguda, about 60 km from Keonjhar.
"My husband was never a Maoist. Nor was he ever involved in any extremist activity. He was innocent. Police just killed him in a false encounter," Mamata told media persons at the burial ground.
"My husband has a truck, a car and a van. We were living happily through our business. Due to closure of mines, the truck was lying idle for the last few months. Hence, on Monday he went out from the house to Kaliapani area to see whether mining activities could start anytime soon. We started searching for him when we found his cell phone switched off. We only recognized him from his photo published in newspapers," Mamata, mother of a 4-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter, said.
Police, however, have a different story to tell. An official release issued by police on Saturday said Amin was amongst four persons belonging to the Kalinga Nagar Division of the CPI (Maoist). He was the present treasurer of the body, and was involved in extorting money from commoners. He also worked for Maoist frontal organizations like Chasi Muliya Sangathan, Nari Mukti Sangathan, Natya Mandalam etc. "His job was to lure innocent tribals to the Maoist rank, and hand them over to Sushil alias Basant (secretary of the Kaling Nagar Division committee)," it said.
Police further claimed Amin's house was a shelter for Maoists. During the Nayagarh attack, he had taken seven caders of Kaling Nagar division and dropped them at Ghasma training camp of the Maoists. He was also acting as a link between Sushil and Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. Amin was earlier arrested by Kaliapani police in Jajpur district in August 2008.
Keonjhar SP Ashish Kumar Singh said, "Amin was a Maoist and was killed during police encounter in Mundatopa forest in Kanjipani police station area. Arms and ammunition and other objectionable items were seized from him. He was the founder member of the Kaling Nagar division."
The SP said Amin's wife had been 'pressurized by Maoist leader Sushil to come to Keonjhar and create a ruckus before the media. Intelligence reports of his involvement in Maoist activities are available with Jajpur and Keonjhar police," the SP added. Police said they were trying to bury the body in the presence of a magistrate as no one had come forward to claim the body.

Elephant attacks claimed 61 lives in state in 2011
BHUBANESWAR: The incident of elephant depredation in the state is on the rise. It was evident from the facts that the annual average death in elephant attack till 2010-11 was 58, in 2011-12 it became 61.
Similarly, elephants damaged crops in 7,341 acres in 2010-11 while in 2011-12 it was 10,942 acres. The state government had given compensation of Rs 144 lakh to the victims of elephant attack in 2010-11 and Rs 381.7 lakh in 2011-12, official sources said.

Experts and forest officials discussed the increasing man-elephant conflict at a workshop on "Conservation of elephants in Odisha and its challenges". Speaking on the occasion, environment and forest minister Debi Prasad Mishra emphasized the need for protection of elephants and precautions that to be taken to reduce losses because of man-elephant conflict. The minister also highlighted the steps taken by the government.

Principal chief conservator of forests P N Padhy said the elephant population is spread over 28 districts of the state. "Of the total 1,886 elephants nearly 81% live in 11 sanctuaries while the rest 19% are distributed outside the protected area and cause most incidents of elephant depredation," he said.

The president of the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society of Odisha, M F Ahmed, emphasized on the special initiatives that need to be taken for conservation of elephants with active cooperation of the public and vigorous conservation programme by the government.

NHRC gets 242 complaints at public hearing

PURI: In a bid to make public servants aware of the scale of problems being faced by the weaker sections of society, the National Human Rights Commission held first-of-its-kind open hearing at Puri on Monday.
Victims and human rights activists voiced their grievances and outlined the problems they face in seeking justice from government agencies. From the 242 complaints received, 72 cases were heard.
The NHRC team was headed by member Satyabrata Pal.

Speaking on the occasion, Pal advised government officials to be sensitive while dealing with cases relating to human rights violation. “People below the poverty line should be extended all benefits of the schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, Integrated Child Development Scheme, National Rural Health Mission so that such complaints are minimised,” Pal said.

The Commission would examine all the cases and instruct the State Government to take action accordingly.
The hearing was held as per the recommendations of K B Saxena, who carried out a study on the continuing problems faced by the Scheduled Castes and made recommendations to tackle and solve them.

Among the recommendations was that the Commission organise at least one open hearing a year “where the victims of major atrocities can present their experiences and grievances in seeking justice from government agencies and human rights bodies or NGOs or social workers and activists may apprise the rights body of difficulties encountered by them in taking up their complaints”.

NHRC team meets villagers at Posco site
Kendrapada: A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team visited villages at the proposed Posco steel plant site on Tuesday to investigate into alleged rising incidents of human rights violation in the region.
NHRC member Satyabrata Pal, along with five team members, visited Dhinkia, Nuagaon, Noliasahi, Gobindapur, Gadakujang and other villages under Earasama block of Jagasingpur district where the state government tried to acquire 4,004 acres of land for the South Korean steel company to build a steel plant in these areas at the cost of Rs 52,000 crores, the biggest FDI in the country.

Anti-Posco activists told the NHRC team that land sought to be acquired for the proposed plant would deprive at least 30,000 locals of their livelihood. "We showed all documents on rights of locals under Forest Rights Act to the NHRC team and many evidence of human rights violation by officials and police in a clear nexus with anti-social elements," said Sishir Mohapatra, general secretary of Posco Pratirodhaka Sangram Samiti (PPSS).

"We told Satyabrata Pal that apart from causing displacement of local people, the company, in cohorts with ruling party leaders and police, have taken to patronizing local hooligans to start a reign of terror by abusing and threatening the people. Police has leveled false charges against hundreds of villagers, as a result of which they are afraid of to go outside the villages. They are not getting proper health services as it is impossible for them to visit neighbouring hospitals at Kujang and Paradip, fearing arrest by police," said Abhaya Sahoo, president of PPSS.

Sabita Mandal (28), widow of one Tapan Mandal of Patana village, told the NHRC team, "My husband was killed by pro-Posco anti-socials on June 20, 2006 while he was protesting against the project. The authority is yet to arrest the killers of my husband."

Besides, at least 254 pro-industry villagers of Dhinkia gram panchayat, who have been driven out of the village by the anti-land acquisition brigade during the past five years, narrated their plight to the NHRC team. "Anti-Posco villagers assaulted us and drove us out of the village in 2007 after we refused to join the anti-industry movement. Since the past five years we have been living in a makeshift camp in Badagabapur village, 15 kms from our village Dhinkia. The authority provides Rs 20 each day to each person. But the meager amount is not sufficient for us to maintain our families in this camp," said Chandan Mohanty (50) of Dhinkia village, who now lives in two small tin rooms along with his wife, two sons and a daughter.
"We will submit a detailed report about the violation of human rights in these areas to the NHRC chairman soon," said Pal.

Prafulla Samantray, a social activist and state president of Lokshakti Abhiyan, and others had sent letters to the NHRC chairman in 2008, alleging an unholy nexus between the state government and anti-social elements, unleashing terror in the seaside villages of Earasama block, following which the rapportuer of NHRC Dr Damodar Sarangi had visited the areas on July 3, 2008.

Another woman dies in SCB labour room

Tragedy struck the labour room of the gynaecology department at the SCB Medical College Hospital here again as one more woman died after falling from the labour room bed on Monday night.
Two months earlier, an expectant woman had died in the hospital in a similar incident. Health Minister Prasanna Acharya on Tuesday asked the hospital authorities to submit a report on the incident.
Rasmita Sahoo from Balipatna of Jajpur district had been admitted to the hospital on Saturday and taken to the labour room on Sunday night. Her family members were informed that she had delivered a stillborn child. When they entered the labour room to see her condition, they found her screaming in pain on the floor after falling from the bed. Tension prevailed in the gynaecology ward when Rasmita’s family members alleged that it was because of doctors’ negligence that she died in this manner.

Film portrays plight of Kalinganagar tribals
KENDRAPADA: A documentary on the fight of displaced tribals in Jajpur's Kalinganagar industrial hub was appreciated by many. "Once my village" is a 20-minute film made by documentary photographer and filmmaker Pranab Kumar Aich (25). Pranab, who is from Jajpur district, now resides in Delhi.
"We captured deforestation resulting from industrialization in Jajpur. Hundreds of fledglings perished as many nests were destroyed after the administration axed trees and I presented this issue vividly in my film and photography," said Pranab. The movie was screened at the India International Centre and Cinemala Film Fest in New Delhi. Tnn

Constitute SC/ST protection council in 2 weeks'

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has directed the State Government to constitute the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Protection Council in two weeks.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice SK Mishra issued the directive acting on a PIL writ petition which challenged the Government’s inaction in constituting the council.
Baghamber Patnaik, a social activist of Brahmagiri in Puri district, had filed the writ petition. Patnaik, who is the advisor of Odisha Goti Mukti Andolan, an organisation working for abolition of bonded labour system, had pointed out that the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act came into force in 1989 and thereafter, the Rules were framed in 1995. As per Rule 8, the Government should set up a SC and ST Protection Council at the State Headquarters under the DG or IG of Police to safeguard the interests of the communities. But till date, no such council has been set up, the petition stated.

The Government Advocate told the court that the State had already initiated steps for setting up the council and the nodal officer as per the Rule 9 had already been appointed.

57 rescued from illegal children’s home

BHUBANESWAR: As many as 57 inmates of a children’s home have been rescued  by the Child Welfare Committee of the Khurda district from Chandrasekharpur area. The children, including minors, are now in the  custody of Ruchika Childline.

The children’s home, Shree Anand Mission, located near Damana Square of the City, was apparently operating without a valid permission from the Woman and Child Development Department.
Curiously, it had been running for the last 13 years in this fashion.

After Khurda Collector Roopa Mishra asked the CWC to inspect the children’s home, the plight of the inmates came to light. The children rescued included 44 boys and 13 girls although the total inmate strength was 107, CWC member Benudhar Senapti said. The rest had gone home.

Sridhar Satpathy, in-charge of the shelter home, has been detained by the police and could face charges for violation of the Juvenile Justice Act.

During the inspection, the CWC team found that the inmates were living in extremely unhygienic conditions. There were about a dozen rooms for the 107 inmates with eight to 10 being accommodated in each room of 10 ft x 10 ft. For all the 100-odd inmates, there was just one toilet while bathing space was in the open.
Most of the inmates belonged to Kandhamal and Gajapati districts. While the inspecting team could not find details of addresses of the inmates and their nativity, most of them had parents. Just four children were orphans.

Senapati said the management admitted to not having applied for permission since it was sure that meeting the norms would not be easy given the living conditions.

A call on the future of the children would be taken by the CWC chairperson on Thursday. They were produced before the CWC on Wednesday.
Those who have parents could be sent back home or to tribal hostels. The Committee would also decide the future of the orphans.

Farmer ends life over loan burden

NUAPADA: Worried over loan burden yet another farmer, Atmaram Das (40), of Sadhu Pandripani village allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide on Tuesday night.

 Das had consumed the pesticide near his paddy field on Tuesday afternoon and became unconscious after reaching home. Though he was rushed to Nuapada District Headquarters Hospital, he succumbed in the night.

 Das had cultivated crops on three acres of land during the current rabi season and was expecting good harvest but pending old loans from bank and private parties continued to haunt him. He was under immense pressure and upset over the loans as he was not in a position to repay them.

 As per preliminary reports, Das had availed of a loan of ` 40,000 from ADB Branch of State Bank of India at Nuapada besides private loans _ ` 35,000 from a teacher of the village and ` 28,000 from a shopkeeper.
 Das is survived by his wife Pileswari and four sons.

Dhamra port: Villagers oppose land acquisition

BHADRAK: Even though the district administration has issued notification under section 4(1) in March 2012 to the three panchayats near Dhamra port for acquiring 227.63 acres, the locals of Dosinga, Jagula and Dhamra panchayats have expressed their resentment against the official proceedings of acquisition.

The villagers claim that various relief & rehabilitation (R&R) provisions for the displaced people and the land losers have not been fulfilled. The 227.63 acres, part of 2,333 acres earmarked for the port, is to be developed for township, expansion of the railway corridor and water reservoir of the port.

According to sources, hundreds of local people attended a protest meeting at Dhamra on Sunday under a newly-constituted forum 'Bhumi Surakhya Mancha' and resolved to oppose land acquisition.

"The district administration has failed to implement certain mandatory provisions under the R&R policy for the displaced people and the land losers. Of the 124 families displaced five years back, only 69 persons have been provided employment in the outsourced companies under the Dhamra port, but not under direct pay roll. Of the 3741 land losers, only 250 have been given employment. Amid such irregularities, the RPDAC (rehabilitation and peripheral development advisory committee) has not held any meeting since June 2008, flouting government guidelines", said Sanjeeb Nayak, a member of the forum.

Couple killed over 'sorcery'
KEONJHAR: Superstition reared its ugly head in Keonjhar district again with a tribal man murdering a midlle age couple for suspected sorcery.

Police said the double murder came to light at Samantarapur village near Ghatagaon on Sunday. Though the exact reason behind the killings was not ascertained, police suspected that Sushil Birua (55) and Sushi Birua (50) were hacked to death by a neighbour, Matei Munda, who suspected the couple of practising witchcraft. Police sources said Sushil was a driver by profession. The accused has been absconding ever since the attack on Saturday night.

Munda always suspected Sushil and Sushi were behind his family disturbances, said police. On Saturday Munda butchered them with an axe and fled the place.

"I fainted on seeing the accused attacking my parents. He had been threatening to kill my family members for a long time," the slain couple's daughter Santi Munda told media persons.
On receiving the information, Ghatagaon police went to the spot and sent the bodies to Keonjhar hospital for post mortem on Sunday.

Sub-inspector R Sabar said: "Investigation is on and the accused is still at large."
Odisha Rationalist Society (ORS), an organization promoting rational thinking, recently said witchcraft and sorcery had claimed 72 lives in the state in 2011. The figures include 17 murders in Mayurbhanj district followed by 14 in Keonjhar, eight in Sundargarh and six in Rayagada, among other districts.

The ORS recently filed public interest litigation (PIL) in the Orissa High Court seeking setting up of special courts to try cases of superstition-related crimes and forming special investigation teams to probe such cases.
Nine boys held for classmate's rape
ROURKELA: Nine tribal students were arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping a Class X girl at Bisra in Sundargarh district.
Sources said the incident took place on Thursday evening when the victim and her friend were returning home from school. The accused boys, who were the victim's classmates, intercepted the two at a lonely spot on the road.
The boys first teased the girls and then dragged the two inside a nearby forest. The girl's friend, however, managed to escape from the spot. The students then allegedly raped their classmate.
The victim reported the matter to her parents as soon as she reached home. Her parents then filed an FIR at Bisra police station.
"A case has been registered at Bisra police station and all the nine accused have been arrested," said ASP (Rourkela) Sudersan Sethi. "All the accused are minors and they would be produced before a juvenile court," Sethi added.

Police association warns against releasing rebels
CUTTACK: Odisha police association on Monday threatened to boycott duties in Maoist-affected areas if the state government releases hardcore Maoists in exchange of the abducted tribal MLA and Italian tour operator.
Strongly opposing the swap deal, president of State Police Association, Sawarmal Sharma, said if the state government agrees to release hardcore Maoists in exchange of the hostages, it will be an insult to security men who sacrificed their lives during anti-Maoist operations. The release of Maoists will demoralize the entire police fraternity in the state, he added.
"Every year scores of police personnel sacrifice their life in anti-Maoist operations and the state government will do injustice to them by releasing the dreaded rebels," Sharma said. "If the state government bows to the demands of the Maoists we will be forced to boycott duties in the Maoist-affected areas," he said, adding the state government should take strong action against Maoists instead of fulfilling their demands.

Green tribunal order leaves pro-Posco villagers in the lurch
KENDRAPADA: The recent order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) scrapping the environment clearance granted to the Posco project has put brakes on the state government's land acquisition in Dhinkia. However, the nearly 300 pro-industry villagers, who were driven out by anti land acquisition brigades five years back, are not able to return to their homes.

"Five years ago, we were banished to the transit camp at Badagapapur, 15 km from our village, Gobindapur, in Dhinkia, for supporting the Posco project. Now we want to return to our houses. The authorities had assured us a good amount in lieu of our lands. But after the NGT order, land acquisition has stopped and we are unsure of our future. We are the luckless victims of an industrial warfare," said Sangram Padhiari (34), who lives with six of his family members in a transit camp.

Padhiari said they were packed like sardines in 60 tin-covered rooms in the transit camps. "Five years back, 12 makeshift latrines were built by Posco in the camp. Nine latrines were not functioning owing to damaged pipes for the last two years. We live in unthinkable conditions," said Pankajini Padhiari (64) of Dhinkia, who also lives in the camp.

"Anti-Posco villagers assaulted us and drove us out of the village in June, 2007, after we refused to join the anti-industry movement. Since then, we have been residing in the makeshift camp in village Badagabapur. The authorities give us Rs 20 per person per day. Everybody knows it is not sufficient," said Chandan Mohanty (52) of Dhinkia village who resides in two small tin-rooms along with his wife, two sons and a daughter.

"I had four acre land, including a one-acre betel vine farm. We expected to get compensation of about Rs 40 lakh in lieu of my land. I planned to build a house in Kujang after getting the amount. But the NGT directive poured water on my plans, said Prafulla Mohanty (63) of Gobindapur village.

"It is difficult for me to live in two small tin-rooms in the summer with my five daughters, two sons and wife. We had a six-room house in Dhinkia. Anti-land acquisition villagers compelled us to leave our village after I refused to join them," said Santosh Mohanty of village Patana.

"For the last five years, Posco has been paying money to the displaced persons of 52 families. The company has also constructed tin-roofed houses for them. We stopped land acquisition and other works after NGT scraped environment clearance to Posco," said Surjit Das, the additional district magistrate (ADM) of Paradip.

"Some pro-industry villagers, at the behest of some ruling party leaders, left Dhinkia, Gobindapur and Patana villages to get compensation money from the authority. We have no animosity against anybody. We never assaulted the supporters of the project. They are always welcome to return to their houses," said Sishir Mohapatra, the former Sarapanch of Dhinkia and the general secretary of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.

No let-up in migration: Study

BHUBANESWAR: Migration continues unabated from western Odisha. A latest study has revealed that absence of employment, faulty credit system and ineffective implementation of MGNREGS aggravated the problem in the State with many districts reporting rise in migration in the last few years.

 In Balangir, migration has risen by 83 per cent in the last three years. During 2009-11, migration had gone up by 37 per cent, but last year, it witnessed a massive jump. The study covered 4,311 people from 981 households in three blocks of the district and found that 90 per cent were migrants.

 The micro-level study by Aide et Action, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Labour Department of the State Government has said 80 per cent of the migration in Balangir was due to distress conditions in the villages. There is no work in the villages while loan repayment and crop failure are the two most recurring factors of migration for the households.

A common feature was migrants borrowed heavily. Above 95 per cent migrants borrowed to meet their medical expenses and family rituals whereas 55 per cent borrow for their day-to-day sustenance.
Just about 74 per cent families had sufficient money to buy PDS items. At least 69 per cent of the migrants borrow from money-lenders while just nine per cent approached SHGs.

 Kalahandi, part of the study, also presents a similar pattern. At least 81 per cent of the studied population turned out to be migrants. While most were from BPL categories, 45 per cent did not possess any card.
 The study found that principal occupation of these migrant families was working for daily wage. While 59 per cent of the surveyed migrants did not possess any land, about 38 per cent had less than two acres.
Close to 97 per cent of the migrants said they were forced to migrate because of several factors such as lack of employment and livelihood support.

 An important finding of the survey in Balangir was that a significant chunk (32 per cent) migrant households complained of non-availability of work during the lean periods while 22 per cent said payment of dues was delayed. However, 94 per cent of the migrants said
they received job when demanded.

 It also revealed when migrants returned to villages in May and June, there was no work available under NREGS which started during September and October. By that time, the migrants had borrowed to meet their needs and started moving out.

Manhandled’ Collector moves SCW

BHUBANESWAR: Sambalpur Collector Mrinalini Darswal has petitioned the State Commission for Women (SCW) seeking an inquiry into the April 23 incident of ‘manhandling’.
The Commission received a five-page petition from Darswal in which the collector has narrated how she was ‘manhandled’ and ‘abused’ while trying to intervene in a law and order situation. A copy of her petition has also been submitted to the National Commission for Women.
Chairperson of the SCW Dr Jyoti Panigrahi acknowledged receipt of the petition and said she will inquire into it on April 29. “After inquiry, I will recommend actions,” she said.

18 lawyers held, get bail quickly


With the arrest of 18 lawyers on Thursday by the Sambalpur police on the basis of an FIR by Collector Mrinalini Darswal, the Collector-lawyers row appeared to intensify with no sign of any immediate let-up.
Members of the Orissa High Court Bar Association and those of the All Odisha Lawyers’ Forum here have taken a serious view of the manner in which the whole controversy is being handled by the Government, sources said.
Police arrested 18 advocates, including Sambalpur District Bar Association president Pramod Rath and secretary Bijitendriya Pradhan, from the court area amidst virulent protests from fellow advocates when they were sitting on dharna in front of the RDC office as part of their month-end agitation demanding a permanent High Court bench at the district headquarters.
Some of the lawyers were organising a rally for the purpose when police made the arrests. However, fellow advocates protested the action of the police and shouted slogans against the district administration and the Collector in particular, demanding her arrest.
The entire court area turned into a police camp with large numbers of armed forces deployed everywhere. Amidst tight security, the advocates were produced before the SDJM of Sambalpur who later released them on PR bond.
“This is a victory of the advocates,” asserted association president Rath.  On the other hand, the Government employees are also preparing for their next course of action. “If we don’t get adequate safety and security, we will refrain from normal duties with information to the Government,” said their office bearers.
There appears to be no let-up in the situation in the near future since both sides are rigid on their stands.
The Orissa High Court Bar Association and those of the All Odisha Lawyers’ Forum here on Thursday took a serious view of the manner in which the whole controversy is now being handled by the Government.
Criticising the Government’s announcement for a Crime Branch inquiry into Monday’s assault on the Sambalpur Collector and the subsequent announcement by the Chief Minister that “law will take its own course”, the lawyers of Cuttack demanded a judicial probe into the entire issue.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of all cases registered against the Sambalpur lawyers, members of the two largest lawyers’ bodies of the State also came down heavily on the stand taken by the IAS Officers’ Association in meeting the Chief Minister and appreciating the Collector’s action without making any objective study at the ground level.
Sending a team of lawyers to Sambalpur for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, the lawyers of Cuttack also decided to abstain from court activities, including that of the High Court, till Monday. “We will decide on further course of action after going through the report of the team of lawyers on Monday,” said HC  Bar Association president Jayant Das.
Das was also critical about the action of the local police when they arrested at least 18 lawyers on Thursday under several charges. “How could the police act first on the counter FIRs filed by the officers when the lawyers had first filed their FIR against the Collector and the district Sub-Registrar,” Das asked.
Similarly, All Odisha Lawyers’ Forum chief Dharanidhar Nayak demanded, “The whole issue should be thoroughly probed into by a judicial commission headed by a retired judge of the High Court.”

SWC disposes of 26 cases at Kendrapada camp

State Women Commission (SWC) chairperson Dr Jyoti Panigrahi, on Wednesday, visited here to attend a camp court at the District Collector’s office. She was accompanied by member of the commission Snigdha Panigrahi.
As many as 33 cases of dowry torture, dowry death, cheating and harassment against women were put before the camp court for disposal and 26 cases were disposed in the court. Besides the chairperson, District Collector Pradipta Kumar Pattnaik and SP Narasingh Bhola were present.
Later, Panigrahi said, “Out of 33 cases from the district, three cases have been settled amicably, whereas four cases were closed down by the Commission as they were sub-judice. Four cases were referred to police for action and five fresh complaints were received by the Commission.
Panigrahi condemned the face-off in Sambalpur between District Collector Mrunalini Darshwal and lawyers. She appealed the lawyers of Sambalpur and the district administration for peace and not to repeat such incident. Panigrahi said she would provide moral support to the Sambalpur Collector as a woman.
Asked if the SWC would intervene in the issue, she said the need is not felt now but as and when it is required, the Commission will definitely intervene. Panigrahi stated that women desks have been opened in all the police stations to curb violence against woman, but due to shortage of staff, the results are not satisfactory. Even to curb immoral trafficking, integrated anti- human trafficking units have been functioning in five districts and plans are afoot to set up more units across the State, she said.
In Kendrapada district, as many as 2, 133 cases have been registered between 1993 and 2012. But only 1, 390 cases have been disposed of. From January, 2012 to March, 2012, as many as 24 cases of women violence and torture have been registered in the district, where as eight out of 24 cases have been disposed of, she informed.
As many as 101 cases of dowry death, 967 cases of dowry torture, 624 non-dowry torture cases, 46 cases of suspected death, 61 cases of rape, 74 cases of kidnap, 165 cases of cheating, 44 cases of land dispute, 74 cases of service matter, 499 cases of misbehavior and 105 cases of harassment have been reported in the State from January, 2011 to March, 2012, she disclosed.

No new liquor shops against people’s will: HC


CUTTACK: In a landmark judgment that could change the way liquor shop licences are granted in the State, the High Court has held that the State Government is duty-bound to honour the will of the people and local representatives while permitting opening of liquor outlets.

 The will of the people must prevail over the intention of the Government for grant of liquor shop licence in a particular area. Achieving revenue collection target cannot be a ground for opening of liquor shops, the court observed.
 A Division Bench of Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice B N Mohapatra said the Government is duty-bound to ensure that the rule of law is maintained and for that it should take effective steps to check sale of spurious liquor that often results in loss of lives. The Government, the Bench said, cannot take advantage of its own inaction, latches and failure to prevent sale of spurious liquor by opening new liquor shops.
 The directive came in response to a PIL filed by one Laxmi Charan Patra of Ganjam district. He had  challenged opening of a new IMFL Off shop at Singipur under Pattapur police station within Digapahandi Excise limits.
 The petitioner alleged that the authorities were trying to open the liquor shop in gross violation of the excise law and ignoring the objections raised by local populace and people’s representatives like sarpanch and chairman of panchayat samiti of that area. Singipur, Patra pointed out, is a very tiny village with people mostly belonging to BPL category. Opening of liquor shop in such an area would not be in public interest, the petitioner maintained.
 The court observed that both the State and the Centre have introduced several schemes for the uplift  of the weaker sections. The Government should curb illegal sale of spurious liquor in an effective manner instead of opening liquor shops in the locality against the will of the people.
 Due to opening of liquor shops in rural and slum areas, the Bench remarked, a substantial portion of earning goes towards consumption of liquor which not just affects the health and financial conditions of the earner, it ruins the family life. Therefore, whenever there is opposition from people or from people’s representatives to opening of liquor shops, the Government should refrain from doing it, the Bench said.
 “Needless to say, if the objections raised are not accepted, then the very system of local self- governance enshrined in the Constitution will be an illusion,” the Bench remarked.


Electric shock in hostel kills tribal student

Keonjhar: A 12-year-old tribal student was killed by electric shock in SC/ST department-runKadakala High School, under Banspal block on Wednesday evening.
The Class VI student was identified asGurucharan Munda, a resident of Nuagaon village. According to police, Gurucharan was electrocuted while climbing on to his cot at night in the school hostel when he accidentally touched the solar light wire hanging near his bed.
Gurucharan was rushed to Keonjhar district headquarter hospital, where he was declared dead. "The student died of electrocution. A postmortem has been conducted. We are investigating the incident and have registered an UD case," said Nayakote police station IIC S K Kisan.
Parents of the deceased student alleged the accident took place due to the negligence of the school authorities.
"Assistant district welfare officer is inquiring into the incident. After investigation action will be taken against those found guilty," said district welfare officer Basanta Kumar Sethy.
There are about 430 students in the hostel.


End comes after 44 days & at price of compromise 


The 44-day long Maoist hostage crisis in Odisha came to an end with the release of Laxmipur BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka on Thursday.
Though the ultras released all their three hostages taken in two separate incidents unharmed, the State Government had to pay a heavy price.
The Naveen Patnaik Government, which used to describe the Maoists as "criminals" and "anti-nationals," had to bow down before the demands of the insurgents.
Chief Minister Patnaik, who often described Maoist violence using words such as "carnage," "gruesome," "inhuman" and "barbaric," had to choose them carefully in a bid to secure freedom for the three men.
Patnaik, who had hardly compromised on important issues in his political career spanning over a dozen of years, had to make about 100 appeals to the Maoists requesting them to release the Italian duo and the MLA.
While the Maoist group led by Sabyasachi Panda released tourist Claudio Colangelo on March 25 after abducting him on March 13, they freed tour operator Paolo Basusco on April 12.
Meanwhile, another group of the Maoists of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee had abducted MLA Hikaka on March 23 night, adding to the crisis for the Government. The State administration had to pay a hefty price to ensure the release of the trio.
While the Government announced its decision to facilitate release of five Maoists from jail in lieu of the two Italians’ freedom, it had to commit to the ultras that 25 persons — 17 members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh and eight Maoists — would be released from jail.
This is not all. The Government had to announce its decision to withdraw the cases against 13 persons, including five Maoists, for safe release of the MLA. The Government, however, refused to release dreaded Maoist Chenda Bhusan alias Ghasi and four other members of the CMAS, including Gananath Patra.
“The State Government will do the needful to fulfill the commitments it made to the Maoists,” Principal Secretary of Home Department, Upendra Nath Behera, said.

Rights body faults Southco for boy's death

Bhubaneswar/ Keonjhar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recently asked power distribution major Southern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Limited (Southco) to pay Rs 1.5 lakh compensation to the family of a minor boy, who was electrocuted in 2010.

OHRC found gross negligence with Southco and asked its chief executive officer to pay the compensation within six weeks. The order was delivered on April 23.
Class VIII student B Upendra died after coming in contact with a high tension line on his school premises at Upalapada in Gajapati district on June 24, 2010. "The live wire was hanging precariously on school premises. Southco showed little interest to remove the live wire," OHRC registrar C R Mohapatra told media persons here on Friday.

Soon after Upendra's tragic death, human rights activist R K Tripathy had moved the commission seeking compensation from Southco, sources said.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old youth died of electric shock after coming in contact with an electric wire at a village in Keonjhar district. The deceased was identified as Ganeswar Sethy of Saraskela village in Sadar police station area.

According to sources, many trees were uprooted in the area due to gusty winds on Thursday night. An electric wire passing through the village also snapped in the storm and fell on the ground. When Rankanidhi Sethy, the deceased's father went out of his house to attend to the call of nature, he got a shock after coming in contact with the wire and shouted for help. His wife rushed out and also suffered an electric shock. His parents' shout for help woke Ganeswar up and he went out to see what was wrong. While rescuing his parents Ganeswar was electrocuted and died on the spot.

Tension mounted in the village after the incident. An electric department official and police went to the spot on Friday to investigate the incident. The electric department official assured family members of the deceased of adequate compensation.

"Postmortem of the body was conducted after registering a case in police station. Investigation is on," said a police officer of Sadar police station.
Earlier on Wednesday, a tribal student of Kadakala high school also died due to electrocution.


Man electrocuted while trying to save parents
JEONJHAR: A 27-year-old youth died of electric shock after coming in contact with an electric wire on Thursday night in Saraskela village underSadar police station limit. The deceased was identified as Ganeswar Sethy.
According to sources, many trees were uprooted in the area due to gusty winds on Thursday night. An electric wire passing through the village also snapped in the storm and fell on the ground. When Rankanidhi Sethy, the deceased's father went out of his house to attend to the call of nature, he got a shock after coming in contact with the wire and shouted for help. His wife rushed out and also suffered an electric shock. His parents' shout for help woke Ganeswar up and he went out to see what was wrong. While rescuing his parents Ganeswar was electrocuted and died on the spot.

Tension mounted in the village after the incident. An electric department official and police went to the spot on Friday to investigate the incident. The electric department official assured family members of the deceased of adequate compensation.

"Postmortem of the body was conducted after registering a case in police station. Investigation is on," said a police officer of Sadar police station.
Earlier on Wednesday, a tribal student of Kadakala high school also died due to electrocution.

Protest against power plant enters 45th day 


ANGUL: The indefinite dharna by the Jibana Jibika Krushi Surakshya Committee at Baradamalia village, about 95 km from here, entered its 45th day on Wednesday. The villagers have been opposing the setting up of a proposedpower plant in the area.

The 1980MW power plant needs 1,000 acre land, out of which only 300 acre is government land. Villages like Dhaurapalli, Barada Malia, Karamala Kata and Baija would be affected by the project. tnn
A tri-partite talk convened by the district collector on Tuesday failed to reach any conclusion on the issue. Most of the members present at the meeting reportedly opposed the move by the state government to set up the power plant.

Dinabandhu Pradhan, the president of JJKSC, said, "The area which is notified for the project is highly fertile for paddy and agricultural purposes. The setting up of the power plant would not only affect the livelihood of the farmers, but will also have its impact on environment. We have asked the district administration to relocate the plant."

Angul district collector Siba Prasada Mishra said, "I have heard the opinions of common people in the meeting. While some members were against the proposed power plant in the area, others favoured it."

Juvenile thief ordered to clean hospital for six months


In almost a replication of the Odisha High Court verdict awarding two juvenile criminals do social service, which, of course, was altered later on appeal by the parents, the Bhadrak Judicial Magistrate First Class has ordered a juvenile thief to clean the outdoor of the District Headquarters Hospital for six months starting May 1.
The case was against Tulu Behera (17) and Banguru Jena (17) of Randia under Bhadrak Rural police station, who were framed for theft of Rs51,200 from the house of one Khudiram Sahu residing in a hut near the Randia overbridge on August 6, 2011.
The police, on investigation, had recovered Rs20,000 from Tulu and Rs14,000  from Banguru.
While the JMFC, Namita Das, acquitted Banguru for want of adequate evidence, she passed an order of exemplary punishment for Tulu ruling that he will clean the outdoor of the Bhadrak Headquarters Hospital for six months, starting from May 1 after making a detailed study of his background and ascertaining that he was a poor boy and had no criminal antecedents.
The court ruling has been widely acclaimed across  the district.