Kendrapada : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from Odisha DGP within four weeks on the alleged police atrocities on demonstrators agitating against the Mega drinking water Supply project in river Kharsrota at Bhariguda under Rajkanika Tehsil of the district.
Adjudicating a petition filed by Rights Activist Pratap Chandra Mohanty , the NHRC in its order passed on October 1 last asked the DGP to intimate the Commission within four weeks if any, notice or order has been received in the matter from the State Human Rights Commission.
People of the area have been protesting against the project as they said the project would seriously affect the bio diversity of the Bhitarkanika National park and make the Kharsrota river dry.
Mr Mohanty, in his petition alleged that on the basis of an FIR lodged by the project Senior Executive Adminstrator Shiba Prasad Biswal on August 12 last Rajkanika Police registered cases against over 800 local people and arrested 24 persons including several innocent people in the midnight u/s 395,307,427 ,436,511 ,452,34 & 4- Prevention of damage to public property Act 1984 without making any inquiry to suppress the agitation.
Mr Mohanty said the women members of a family moved from door to door and begged money to perform the last rites of a member of their family after two earning members (two brothers)of the family were arrested by police even though they did not participate in the agitation and their younger brother committed suicide after failing to release them on bail.
Mr Mohanty, appealed to the NHRC to intervene in the matter and direct Odisha Chief Secretary to order a high level enquiry into incident and provide adequate security to victims.
He also urged the NHRC to direct the Chief Secretary to pay a compensation of Rs 20, lakh to the wife of the man who committed suicide.
