Boy loses sole hand, leg in train accident
In yet another proactive role to encourage the use of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) as an important tool in redressing the plight of poor people, the Orissa High Court on Friday converted a letter-petition into a PIL and directed the State Government to provide free treatment to a physically-handicapped boy, who lost one of his legs and his only hand in a train mishap on Thursday.
Pravakar Pradhan (10) of Raghunathpur in Jagatsinghpur district had lost his left arm due to severe burn injuries when he was only two years old. He lost his father when he was six-year-old. But thanks to his strong determination, he was shouldering the responsibility of his family of old mother and a younger brother by begging in trains.
However, as ill-luck would have it, he was allegedly pushed from a running train on Thursday afternoon and he was critically injured in his right hand and right leg. Doctors at the SCB Medical College Hospital
When the boy’s plight was brought to the notice of the High Court through the petition filed by Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum secretary Nishikant Mishra, a division Bench of Justice BP Das and BK Nayak expressed deep concern for the boy.
The HC directed the Cuttack
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities pointed out that a team of doctors comprising surgeons and orthopedics is attending to the boy and he is provided free medicines. His clinical examinations are also being done free of coat by the hospital,” said hospital Superintendent DN Moharana.
According to some eyewitnesses, the boy actually slipped from the Paradeep-Palasa DMU near the Gorakhnathpur station as he stepped on a banana peel while boarding the train. But other reports said the boy was allegedly pushed from the running train by a cucumber vendor. His right leg came under the wheels of the train while his right hand was badly damaged as it came between the steps of the bogey and edge of the platform.
Youth moves OHRC over police torture
Sahoo said the Rs 12 lakh of the automobile showroom was looted from him by unidentified bike-borne men near Satsang Vihar within Saheed Nagar police limits when he was going to deposit the money in a bank in Bapuji Nagar by car. The car was being driven by a driver. "But after we reported the matter to police, they suspected my involvement," said Sahoo, who had joined the showroom in Mancheswar area two months ago.
Fast by teacher held for attack on ministerBhubanananda Sarangi, headmaster of Pratap Purusottampur High School
"The school teacher was framed in the case just because he was the father of a Congress activist. In stead of arresting the real culprits, police picked up the teacher. Hence, he has started a fast protesting against police action," Sarangi's lawyer Priyadarshan Pattnaik said. Incidentally, the BJD has held the Congress responsible for the attack, much to the latter's denial. The Congress ascribed the attack to BJD "infighting".
Puri district jail superintendent (in-charge) Rabindranath Swain said Sarangi was hell-bent against taking food since morning. "We tried our best to feed him, but in vain. We have informed our higher authorities - the district collector, the SP and the local court," Swain added.
"We are closely monitoring his health conditions. Doctors are present in the jail," Swain added. Sarangi had not ended his fast till evening.
Earlier, police had arrested the main accused in the case, Baladhadra Bhoi, who had attacked Mohanty with an iron rod. He was nabbed at the spot itself. Based on the complaint of the husband of a local BJD zilla parishad candidate, police had booked seven persons, including Bhoi and Sarangi, in connection with the attack. Some of the accused are relatives of Congress-backed candidates for the panchayat elections, sources said.
"Our inquiry is on. Other culprits would be arrested soon," Puri SP Anup Kumar Sahoo told TOI. He, however, refused to comment on the motive of the attack.
Meanwhile, some locals smelt a revenge angle in the incident. Sources said one of the accused (not arrested yet) was in the BJD until recently, before he joined the Congress, after his wife was denied a BJD ticket to contest as a zila parishad candidate.
"When he sought an explanation from Mohanty in a meeting as to why his wife was denied ticket, Mohanty's supporters tried to suppress him. We suspect he might have been the mastermind behind the attack," a villager said. His wife is now contesting as a Congress zila parishad candidate from the locality, sources said.
Koraput district jail a killing field for prisoners, says tribal outfit leader
KORAPUT: Jailed Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh(CMAS) advisor Gananath Patra has alleged massive irregularities in Koraput district jail.
Patra, who is in the jail as an undertrial prisoner since 2010 for his alleged involvement in a series of offensives executed by the Maoist-backed tribal outfit in the district, said at least 25 inmates have died in the jail in the past four years due to negligence of jail authorities.
"The inmates are supplied with poor quality rice at the jail. The cooked rice served to the inmates is not eatable. Unable to eat, most of the inmates throw the rice," Patra said during his appearance at a Jeypore court on Wednesday.
According to the Sangh leader, though the jail authorities engage inmates in growing vegetables on the jail premises, the vegetables are never used in the food prepared for the inmates. "Jail authorities earn handsomely by selling the vegetables grown in the jail but never cook it for the inmates. The inmates are served with inferior quality food," he said.
Sources said, against a given strength of 657, over 700 inmates are housed in the jail at any given point in time. Partra alleged medical attention is not provided to the inmates living in overcrowded conditions.
"Timely medical attention is not provided to the inmates due to non-availability of doctors. Jail authorities always ignore ailing inmates till their condition becomes serious. They always shift inmates in serious condition to the district headquarters hospital where the patients rarely survive. Jail authorities always try to suppress the matter, citing the reason of the deaths as cardiac arrest," he said.
Koraput jail superintendent Brahmananda Sahu, however, brushed off Patra's allegations, saying, "The allegations brought by the Sangh leader are baseless. We receive the rice served to the inmates from the government and the menu prepared by the state government for the inmates is strictly followed in the jail." He added, "As the regular doctor of the jail is on leave, another doctor has been appointed to look after the inmates' health."
Pipili case: SCW questions role of cops, doctors
She also submitted a copy of the report to Member-Secretary of National Commission for Women Anita Agnihotri who is in the State to inquire into the incident. Sources said the SCW wondered why the Pipili police did not investigate and what exactly happened to the complaint which was lodged by the family of the 19-year-old girl. Initially, there was no clarity on whether the police had registered the complaint and what action was initiated which led to a series of events later, the report suggested.
Panigrahy’s report also pointed a finger at the doctors who first examined the victim after the November 29 incident. Since it was a clear case of partial hanging, the doctor at Pipili as well as Capital Hospital
“Had the doctors taken view of the case as an MLC, the police would have no option but to investigate since there would have been documentary evidence but it was not followed,” the report suggested. In fact, neither Pipili Hospital nor the Capital Hospital
The report also took exception to the manner the victim who was first admitted to SCB Medical College
Panigrahy’s report also was critical about the family which did nothing between December 14 and January 7 and kept the girl at home. Had they been proactive and taken up the matter with any of the rights panel, the girl would have got better attention.
The SCB Medical also came in for criticism since the girl was initially given a cold shoulder after the State Women’s Commission arranged the victim’s admission at Capital Hospital before she was shifted her to Cuttack
Jindal's conciliatory efforts make headway
Accepts 13 demands of villagers, which includes meeting medical expenses of those injured in clash
The Angul district administration and authorities of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) on Friday made a conciliatory effort to pacify villagers who were incensed over the issue of employment and compensation.
At a meeting held at DRDA conference hall at Angul, members of Birankeswr Shilpanchal Khyatigrastha Prajasangha (BSKP) presented the 20-point charter of demands.
Company authorities were said to have agreed to accept 13 demands such as bearing medical expenses of villagers injured in the clash with JSPL security personnel on January 25 and ensuring 90 per cent representation of local people in the semi-skilled and unskilled jobs. Villagers boycotted the previous meeting when district magistrates instructed mediapersons to wait outside the meeting hall.
Despite a significant breakthrough in the impasse that had been continuing for more than a fortnight now, villagers refused to leave the agitation place outside the main gate of the JSPL's facility at Angul.
Sanatan Sahu, secretary of BSKP, said: “We will not compromise on any of our demands. The district administration has convened the next meeting on February 19 just after the panchayat election. We will make sure that all our demands are met.”
Contentious issue
There had been no unanimity on the demand for compensation of Rs. 50 lakh per acre of land acquired by the company. The JSPL acquired 3789.98 acres of land at Angul, the bulk share of the land measuring 2819.64 acres had come from farmers.
Meanwhile, Member Secretary of the National Commission for Women Anita Agnihotri visited Angul hospital where many were admitted after being injured in the clash.
The State Commission for Women also expressed concern over the matter and directed Angul Superintendent of Police to initiate action against persons responsible for heinous act. CPI(M) workers took out a rally protesting against the attack on displaced people.
No comments:
Post a Comment