Orissa HC orders CB probe into mysterious death of RTI activist Ranjan Das
Kendrapara, Feb 1: The Orissa High Court has ordered a Crime Branch probe into the ‘mysterious’ death of dalit RTI activist Ranjan Kumar Das of Kendrapada district three years back.
Single bench judge Justice S K Panigrahi who recently examined a video clip submitted by the father of the deceased Ranjan Kumar Das before the High court, has directed the Crime Branch wing of Odisha police to take over the investigation of the case.
“In such a view of the matter, this court directs that the matter (ought to) be handed over to the Crime Branch for a denovo (starting from the beginning) inquiry regarding the death of the son of petitioner.
The Judge directed the investigating officer to hand over the charge of the investigation to the Crime Branch forthwith, which is directed to complete the investigation as early as possible, preferably within three months from the date of taking over the case.
On February 1, 2020, early morning the Dalit RTI activist, Ranjan Kumar Das, was found lying dead on the roadside of Beruhan village under the Marshaghai police station.
The well-wishers suspected Ranjan‘s death as a cold-blooded murder committed by a gang of miscreants in some mysterious circumstance.
Though mystery shrouded the death of the whistleblower, who had brought a series of corrupt deeds of local officials, the local police dismissed the murder angle and registered an unnatural death case claiming that Das died in a road accident.
The IIC of Marshaghai police station did not register a case under SC & ST(PA) Act,1989 nor a DSP-level official has been entrusted to take the case for investigation as per the guidelines.
The RTI activists in the state alleged a cover-up exercise by the local police forcing the father of the deceased to move to the Orissa High Court seeking justice.
“The petitioner had expressed displeasure over the investigation done by the Investigating Officer.
Earlier, the Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, the Congress and the BJP had submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister, the DGP, the state Human Rights Commission and National Human Rights Commission for inquiry.
The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) had handed over the case to the Additional DG of Police –cum-director Investigation, OHRC to personally enquire into the matter and to submit his report within six weeks in view of the seriousness of the allegations and issue involved in the case.
