NHRC Seeks Report From Odisha On Death Of Boy In Ganjam

Bhubaneswar: The national human rights commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report from the collector of Ganjam district in Odisha regarding the death of a 10-year-old boy at a village last month.

The boy Pabitra Pahan, a Class V student, was killed after an iron gate of a cyclone shelter centre at Tulasipur village under the jurisdiction of Khallikote police station collapsed and fell on him on February 11.

The mishap took place when Pabitra and his friends were playing near the shelter home. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. Locals alleged the gate collapsed due to substandard work done by the contractor.

The NHRC issued this direction after hearing a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. The petitioner alleged that poor quality of construction of the cyclone shelter and lack of maintenance due to inaction and negligence of the district administration amounts to serious violation of human rights.

The petitioner urged the commission for an investigation into the matter, proper maintenance of the cyclone shelter, provision of playground for kids, compliance of other provisions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act in the School and compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.

Issuing the notice to Ganjam collector, the commission sought a report on the matter within four weeks.