NHRC Seeks Report On ‘Fake’ Encounter In Odisha’s Koraput

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned the Odisha government and sought an action taken report within four weeks over an alleged fake encounter in Koraput district on November 10, leading to the death of two persons.

The apex human rights watchdog has asked the DGP, Collector and SP of Malkangiri district to submit a detailed report on the exchange of fire with Special Operations Group (SOG) and the deaths of two persons on Thursday while hearing a petition filed by rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.

The petitioner said that the encounter was fake and the deceased had no link with the banned outfit. “The facts and circumstances of the cases clearly indicate a painful and alarming situation in the state. The two men were poor daily wagers,” he said, adding, “The encounter amounts to a terrible violation of human rights of the people.”

While Koraput police on November 11 claimed to have gunned down two ‘Maoists’ in Malipadar forests under Boipariguda limits, the family members of slain tribals – Dhana Khamar of Sargiguda village under Malkangiri police limits and Jaya Kumar Nag of Nuagada under Kosagumuda police limits in Nabarangpur – asserted that the duo was daily wagers. Villagers along with family members of Dhana also blocked NH-326 near Kotameta in Malkangiri district on November 13, alleging that the encounter was fake and the two were branded as Maoists only to hide the blunder.