NHRC Seeks Report On 3 Tribal Women’s Electrocution Death In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action taken report (ATR) from the Odisha government over the electrocution death of three women from a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in Keonjhar district last month.

The Commission issued directive to the Energy department principal secretary on a petition filed by rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. The Commission has sought the ATR within six weeks.

The three women belonging to Juanga tribe had come in contact with live electric wires when they went inside a forest near their Tangiri Juangsahi village in the Telkoi area on October 22 to graze their goats. The three had died on the spot. The petition said that the live wires were dangling dangerously in the air and the victims were unable to notice the death trap.

If the Electricity department had undertaken proper maintenance work in restoring the sagging line to adequate height, three human lives could have been saved, the petitioner said while blaming the energy department for the tragedy.

The petition sought the rehabilitation of the deceased PVTG Juang families, fair and impartial inquiry into the incident, stringent action against the department and adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased women.

The Commission further ordered that copy of the complaint be transmitted to the Principal Secretary of Energy department of Odisha through online mode to ensure the needful action in time.