NHRC To Probe ‘Fake’ Police Encounter In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to probe an alleged fake encounter by police in which two tribals were gunned down in Boipariguda area of Odisha’s Koraput district.

The incident that took place in Malipadar forests on November 11, last year was later termed as a fake encounter after the family members of slain tribals claimed that the two were daily wagers and not Maoists as described by the police.

The Commission, wcting on a petition has asked its director general (investigation) to examine the records and reports available on the case and submit the findings within four weeks. Earlier, reports were sought from the Odisha DG of Police and collector and SP of Malkangiri on the alleged fake encounter.

While all reports are yet to be received, the rights panel in a recent order stated that the case required to be analysed by the investigation division on the existing materials to come to a conclusion whether there is any violation of human rights by any public servant, sources said.

The two killed in the ‘encounter’ were identified as Dhana Khamar of Sargiguda village under Malkangiri police limits and Jaya Kumar Nag of Nuagada under Kosagumuda police limits in Nabarangpur. Accusing the police of having described the two as Maoists to give it a colour of encounter, petitioner Radhakanta Tripathy had moved the NHRC.

Meanwhile, the NHRC has also received another complaint from an activist Sagar Jena and an intimation from the superintendent of Kantabanji sub-jail regarding the death of under trial prisoner Gobinda Sahu, who was the prime accused in Kalahandi lady teacher Mamita Meher murder case.  Sahu was found hanging from the kitchen window of Kantabanji sub-jail on December 20.

Following the complaint, the Commissin has directed the Balangir collector and SP and superintendent of Kantabanji sub-jail to send the magisterial enquiry report, crime branch report along with the postmortem and other enquiry reports within six weeks.

The panel has also asked its registrar to take up the matter with the Odisha State Human Rights Commission to inquire whether they have taken cognisance of the case of death in jail custody, the sources added.