HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS UPDATE By Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR), Odisha

1. Violation On Children’s Right. a. Two held for Sexual Harassment in Short stay hoome b. Girl Rescued from being trafficked. c. Baby sold by mother rescued. d. 14- years old Odisha Girl being married off to 40-years old man rescued. e. Beam of school room Falls down. f. Man kills mentally ill son , commots suicide. g. 49 child labour rescued in Odisha. h. 22 child labour rescued.

i. Three held for Raping Minor.. j. Four Odisha Girl rescued. k. Two minor Odisha Girl sold off by parents in 20,000 rupees. 2. Violation on Women Rights. a. Speech impaired woman gangraped in Puri b. Man held for killing wife. c. 7 years jail for man nad his mother in dwory case.. 3. Corporate Violation . a. JSPL , villagers asked to settle issue amicably b. Bhusan Steel imposed Rs 14 lakh fine for violating safety norms. c. Anti Posco group observe black day, urged Odisha to return aquried land. 4. NHRI/SHRI related News

a. Bolangir Custodial Death :NHRC seeks Odisha Govt. Rely on Compensation. b. Right Body looks into torture of Activists. c. OHRC seeks report on Ganjam Lock-up Death. d. NHRC seeks report on Kandhamal Kidney sells. e. NHRC asked Odisha police to take necessary action in Namtara police firing case. f. NHRC Seeks ATR on pregnant woman thrown off train 5. Man dies in custodial torture in Ganjam. 6. Recognisation right converted into land distribution scheme by BJD Govt.in Odisha: Civil Society 7. Attrocities against Scs, STs, : Odisha to set up three Special Courts.

Two Held for Sexual Harassment in Short Stay Home BALASORE: The District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) and director of a short stay home here were arrested by local police on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a sexual harassment case. The incident had occurred in an NGO-run shelter home four months back. DCPO Itishree Mohapatra and director of Swadhaar Home which is managed by Santwana, an NGO at Chandipur near Mitrapur in Balasore district, Sukanti Parida were produced in the court and remanded in judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected. Police said a case was registered against the two for allegedly cooperating with the people who were accused in the sexual harassment case. According to the complaint, a 15-year-old girl was sexually abused in Bapuji Seva Sadan, a Child Care Institute (CCI) in February. She was rescued and brought to the short stay home by the local administration a few days later. Here too, she was sexually harassed by an employee of the organisation. Following the complaint lodged by the victim, the police had arrested house mother of the CCI Mamata Behera and Binod Nayak of Swadhaar Home while secretary of the CCI Goura Chandra Khamari is absconding. Sahadevkhunta IIC Paresh Rout said though the DCPO was aware of the incident, neither she informed the District Collector nor lodged a police complaint. She did not even intimate the Child Welfare Committee. Earlier, the DCPO and Programme Officer (institutional care) Shradhanjali Beuria were disengaged on the instruction of the Women and Child Development (W&CD) Department in the case. Meanwhile, the State Government has withdrawn the registration awarded to the CCI and stopped the grant-in-aid. According to the inquiry report, during her stay in the CCI, Behera used to send the victim to the room of Khamari either to provide water or massage him at night. During this period, he would allegedly abuse her sexually. She was then shifted to Swadhaar Home where Nayak abused her. Show cause notices also have been issued to the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) and the Child Protection Officer. (Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Two-Held-for-Sexual-Harassment-in-Short-Stay- Home/2015/06/17/article2871096.ece) Girl Rescued from Being Trafficked BARGARH: Even as the police of neighbouring district of Sambalpur is grappling with alleged sale of two minor girls, a similar incident was prevented in Bargarh district. A girl, Kamla Sahu of Nileswar village under Bargarh Sadar police limits was rescued from Jharsuguda railway station before being trafficked and two middlemen accompanying her have been arrested. Bargarh Sadar Police registered a case under Section 366, 420 and 34 of IPC. The two middlemen have been identified as Banmali Bhoi and Amin Saha of Majhipali village under Bijepur police limits of Bargarh district. According to police, the middlemen had promised Kamla’s grandfather to marry off the girl and paid him `12,000. They had requested to escort her. Kamla was first taken to Barpali before being moved to Sambalpur from where they took a bus to reach Jharsuguda. They were waiting at Jharsuguda railway station for a train to Madhya Pradesh when the girl’s father, Garjan Sahu reported the matter to Sadar Police. Police swung into action and rescued the girl from Jharsuguda station. Amin Saha denied charges of human trafficking but admitted that they were taking the girl for marrying her to a person in Durgapur of Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh. He also admitted to have paid `12,000 to Kamla’s grandfather. Though IIC of Sadar police station Tara Jasmine Gudia said investigation into the matter is on, she could not provide the name or age of Kamla’s grandfather. On the other hand, Kamla’s age continues to be a contentious issue with Garjan maintaining that his daughter is 18 years old while villagers claim that she is a minor. (source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Girl-Rescued-from-Being-Trafficked/2015/07/02/article2897646.ece) Baby 'Sold' by Mother Rescued CUTTACK: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Cuttack district has rescued a 13-day-old child who was allegedly ‘sold off’ by her mother at Choudwar’s Salagram since she could not fend for herself and her family.The infant’s custody has been given to Vasundhara. The woman, Tikili Barik, who works as a house maid, is alleged to have handed over three children in the past too.The matter came to light when an anganwadi worker visited Tikili’s home in Professorpara area as part of regular inspection.While the woman had registered all six of her children with the anganwadi centre, the anganwadi worker came across just three.When the matter was reported to the CWC, the officials questioned the woman and found that the 13-day-old baby was handed over to one Narendra Sahoo of Salagram. Tikili, though, refused that she has sold off the baby and said Narendra is a distant relative.It was difficult for her to provide for her six children since her husband Prafulla Barik is an alcoholic, she said.Three other children too were given away to relatives so that they could be taken care of, she told the CWC officials. The matter is under investigation. (source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Baby-Sold-by-Mother-Rescued/2015/06/15/article2867194.ece)

14-yr old Odisha girl being married off to 40-yr old man rescued

A day after a similar incident in Cuttack city, the district administration, along with local police and some volunteers, yesterday foiled a child marriage bid in Odisha’s Nayagarh district.

Family members of a 14-year-old girl were allegedly trying to marry her off to a 40-year-old man from the same vicinity. Following a tip off by locals and acting on the order of the collector Hemant Kumar Padhy, the district administration, led by Deputy Collector Nrusingha Charan Swain, Bhapur Block Child and Women welfare officer, Nayagarh Police SDPO and Phatehgarh Police, raided the place in Badasahara Panchayat under Bhapur block of Nayagarh and rescued the girl. The dinner was ready, the girl was wearing her bridal dress and the marriage ceremony was about to begin when the raid spoiled the fun and saved the girl. The girl, second daughter of very poor parents, had dropped out of school after Class-VIII due to poverty. “I have two daughters and three sons. The older one is married. This is my second daughter. I agreed to the marriage as my financial condition would not have allowed me to marry her off and pay for the dowry a few years later. I don’t want to take the blame of keeping a grown up girl in house either,” said her father who also suffers from many diseases affecting the family’s financial health. The 40-year-old groom is on the run following the raid and the parents of the minor have been detained as per Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.On Thursday, a 15-year old girl had been similarly rescued by child help line members and police in Cuttack city while she was being married off to a 38-year old girl. (Source-http://odishasuntimes.com/2015/06/13/14-yr-old-odisha-girl-being-married-off-to-40-yr-old-man-rescued/)

Beam of School Roof Falls down SALEPUR: A beam in the roof of newly constructed building of Jagannathpur Nodal School in Nischintakoili block fell down on Monday raising questions over the quality of construction work. However, no one was injured in the incident. Reports stated that Rs 3.48 lakh were sanctioned by the Cuttack district administration for construction of the school building under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) in 2010-2011 financial year. The then headmaster of the school, Chitta Ranjan Swain and Village Education Committee (VEC) president Ashok Ojha had started the construction work in 2012. Two classrooms were constructed under their supervision at a cost of Rs 2.7 lakh. The present headmaster of the school Kaifulur Khan withdrew the rest sanctioned amount of Rs 78,000 for completing the rest work of the building on June 15. While the labourers were engaged in plastering a portion of the concrete roof on Monday, the beam fell down. The labourers had a narrow escape. Meanwhile, the finishing work of the building has been stopped and Khan has apprised the District Project Coordinator of SSA, Cuttack Elora Bharti Jena in this regard. Jena has directed Junior Engineer of SSA, Saroj Kumar Sahu to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. (source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Beam-of-School-Roof-Falls-down/2015/06/23/article2882184.ece)

Man Kills Mentally Ill Son, Commits Suicide DHENKANAL:A man allegedly strangulated his mentally unstable 22-year-old son before committing suicide by hanging himself at his residence here, police said on Sunday. Shakti Prasad Acharya, who had recently taken voluntary retirement from government service, was troubled over his son Bidhu Bhusan Acharya’s long mental illness and took the extreme step on Saturday. On the intervening night, the father-son duo had heated exchange of words. Shakti Prasad strangulated his son with a rope while he was asleep before hanging himself from the ceiling of his room by the same rope in the morning. Police recovered a suicide note saying that he had killed his son and also taken his own life as he was unable to sustain the pressure of his son remaining in a state of depression for several years (Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Man-Kills-Mentally-Ill-Son-Commits- Suicide/2015/06/01/article2843250.ece 49 child labourers rescued in Odisha

Berhampur (Odisha), June 26 (PTI) As many as 49 child workers, including 20 from Bihar, have been rescued from small -scale units in Ganjam and Gajapati districts of Odisha. Twenty-two children, including 20 from Bihar, who were working in small manufacturing and sugarcane juice processing units in Berhampur were rescued during a raid by a district- level monitoring committee squad yesterday . In a separate raid, 27 children were rescued from Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district yesterday, said Gajapati district Child Protection Officer, Arun Tripathy. At Paralakhemundi, the child workers were rescued from 17 different locations, including hotels, restaurants, bars, wielding workshops and motor garages and they were in the age group of seven and 18 years, he said. The squad, comprising the district labour officer (DLO), chairman of district child welfare committee (CWC), district child protection officer (DCPO), police and activists of ISRD-Childline, raided at least five small manufacturing and sugarcane processing units at Tulasi Nagara, Niladri Bihar and Somanath Nagara areas of Berhampur. While two of the rescued children were from Ganjam, the others belonged to Darbhanga and Samastipur districts of Bihar. Most of the children are illiterate or school drop-outs who have been working here for the past two to three years, added Prabhu Prasad Patra, ISRD-Childline coordinator. "We found they were working in hazardous conditions in various localities," Ganjam district child protection officer Subodh Kumar Sarangi said. "We will take steps for the prosecution of the owners of the units for engaging these children," said Berhampur district labour officer, Kalpana Mishra. "We are trying to send the rescued children back to their home state through the CWC of their districts in Bihar," Sarangi said. The State Convenor of the Campaign Against Child Labour, Sudhir Sabat, said, "We identified locations in Berhampur where child labourers were working. The list was submitted to the DLO." The district-level coordination committee on the implementation of the action plan for the elimination of child labour in Ganjam, at its first meeting held in February last, had decided to make Berhampur the "first child labour-free" town in the district. (source-http://www.niticentral.com/2015/06/27/49-child-labourers-rescued-in-odisha-320106.html) 22 child labourers rescued : Twenty two minor boys from Bihar, who were being used as child labourers in Berhampur, were rescued on Thursday. Their rescue exposed a racket of trafficking of children from Bihar who were sent to work as child labourers in Odisha. Two youths from Bihar, Prakash Sahni and Aghanu Sahni, who had allegedly brought these rescued children to Berhampur to employ them in different places, were also rounded up. All the rescued children were between the ages of eight and twelve years. They were rescued during a joint operation of Ganjam district Child Protection Committee, labour department, police and Childline from different areas of the city. Speaking to The Hindu , Sudhir Sabat of Childline said all the rescued children were from different villages of Darbhanga district of Bihar. “As per our information, Prakash and Aghanu had allegedly brought around 100 children from Bihar to employ them as child labourers in Berhampur,” he added. Search is on to trace other children. These children from Bihar were being employed in eateries, golgappa kiosks and sugarcane juice units. The employers were employing them for meagre payments which were also being pocketed by the two middlemen. It is not known what these middlemen were paying to the parents of these children.

(source-http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/22-child-labourers-rescued/article7355772.ece)

Three held for raping minor Three persons were arrested for allegedly gangraping a minor tribal girl in Khajuripada area of Odisha's Kandhamal district, police said today. The three, also tribals, were arrested yesterday on charge of gangraping the girl at Garakumpa village on June 12 night. The girl, a student of class X, was returning home after attending a marriage feast in the locality on June 12 night with her younger brother when the accused appeared at an isolated place, police said. The three allegedly dragged her to the road side and raped her one after another near a bush as the little boy was crying. The trio then fled leaving the girl unconscious. The mother of the girl lodged an FIR with Khajuripada police on June 14 after which police sent the survivor centre for medical examination, police said. The accused, who were arrested yesterday after preliminary investigation, have been identified as Pravat Kanhar, Rajib Lochan Kanhar and Chitta Ranjan Kanhar, police added.

(Source-http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/three-held-for-raping-minor-115061800324_1.html)

Four Odisha girls rescued : Four minor girls were rescued by the police in Daringbadi police station area of Kandhamal district of Odisha while they were being illegally trafficked to Mumbai. A youth from Jharkhand, Dipak Prajapati, who was taking these girls to Mumbai was also apprehended by the police. According to police sources, the four minor girls along with the youth from Jharkhand were rounded up near Charichhak, while they were waiting for a bus to travel outside Kandhamal district. The father of one of the minor girls had also lodged a complaint before the police. Dipak claimed before the police that he was taking these girls to Mumbai to get them jobs in a fish processing unit. But a police investigation suggested that parents of none of the girls knew about this plan

(Source-http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/four-odisha-girls-rescued/article7290222.ece) Two minor Odisha girls sold off by parents for Rs 20, 000!

Worried over the fate of her missing sisters, a woman in Sambalpur district of Odisha has filed a complaint with the police alleging that they have been sold off in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

The complainant, Pushpa Saha, approached the town police and filed a complaint on Saturday that their parents—Manbhola Nayak and Prabhasini– have sold her two minor sisters for Rs 20, 000 in Pathria of Madhya Pradesh in June first week. “They have been sold in Madhya Pradesh and are missing since over 15 days. My parents said that they will get them married, but they have actually sold them. One more woman is involved in the case. All have taken money for this,” Pushpa, the eldest of the siblings alleged. Pushpa, who married a year ago, along with her brother and members of a voluntary organisation, lodged an FIR in this regard with the Town police on Saturday. “Pushpa and her brother came to us. They were scared to lodge a complaint with the police. When we assured them of protection, they made up their mind to file a complaint. The complainant says that they have been sold for Rs 20, 000. We suspect involvement of other persons in the incident,” a member of the voluntary organisation which helped Pushpa said. While one sister went missing on June 1, the other went out of the sight four days later, they said in their complaint. Further, they alleged that their parents have sold their sisters– Jyoti (13) and Anjali (14) with the help of a mediator Durgeshini Taria residing in the locality. Notably, the distressed family, with six children, lives near Padmakeshari Park under Mudipada area in Sambalpur city. Pushapa’s paternal aunt also levelled a similar allegation. The latter added that a human trafficking racket is active in the region and she suspects that her two nieces had been sold off to them. About a year ago, Pushpa’s parents had tried to sell her off. However, she was married off hurriedly and was saved from being sold, her aunt added. On the other hand, the parents rejected the allegations that the minor girls have been sold. They clarified that their two daughters have been married in Madhya Pradesh. “The girls are over 18 years and have been married, not sold,” Manbhola Nayak said. Surprisingly, they could not give much details about the groom to whom their daughters have been married off. Meanwhile, police have detained the parents and the alleged woman mediator for further interrogation. From preliminary investigation, it did not appear to be a case of child sale, but a case of marrying off the two girls, police said. A police team has left for Madhya Pradesh to rescue the minor girls. “Pushpa Saha, wife of Santosh Saha, has filed an FIR on Saturday. We have sent a team to Pathria in Madhya Pradesh for investigation. We have also detained the parents of the girls. Further investigation is on to ascertain the age of the girls who are said to be minors,” Sambalpur SDPO, Utkal Keshari Das said. (Source-http://odishasuntimes.com/2015/06/28/two-minor-odisha-girls-sold-off-by-parents-for-rs-20-000/)

Speech Impaired Woman Gangraped in Puri PURI: Even as Puri is embroiled in a massive controversy over “Brahma Parivartan” delay, the pilgrim town woke up to the news of a speech impaired destitute woman being gangraped in an under-construction shop near Jagannath Temple during wee hours of Wednesday. The victim was found to be three-month pregnant. The woman, in her late 20s, was spotted by a local trader who was opening his shop in Dola Mandap Sahi, a few hundred metres from the main gate of the temple. When local police were intimated, they reached the spot and arrested one accused and rescued the woman. The victim was apparently sleeping when three persons are believed to have dragged her to the shop and forced themselves on her. Puri SP Ashish Singh said, since the victim could not provide any details, the Simhadwar Police registered a case suo motu basing on the report of the local shop-keeper and arrested a 26-year-old daily wager Mahavir Rana from the spot. The girl was sent for medical examination and the medical report said the girl was pregnant and confirmed rape. Rana, police said, is a native of Chandanpur village while the woman was from Balasore district. She has been sent to a shelter home in the city. There are about 500 destitute women who live around the Lion’s Gate of the temple and seek alms for a living. (Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Speech-Impaired-Woman-Gangraped-in- Puri/2015/06/25/article2885013.ece) MAN HELD FOR KILLING WIFE Odisha:A 48-year-old man was arrested for allegedly beating his wife to death with a stick at Shyamsundarpur village in Jajpur district, police said on Thrusday. Lalmohan Swain, a truck driver, committed the crime following heated arguments between the two over food served by his wife, Tuni (43), for dinner on Monday night. The brother of the deceased filed an FIR with the Jenapur police station on Tuesday and Swain was arrested on Wednesday. Tuni had married Lalmohan around 23 years ago and they have three children. The accused was forwarded to the court and remanded to judicial custody. The body was sent for post mortem. (Source-http://www.sakshipost.com/index.php/news/national/58246-man-held-for-killing- wife.html?psource=Inner%20Latest)

7 Years Jail For Man And His Mother In Dowry Case A court sentenced a man and his mother to seven years imprisonment for killing his wife for dowry in 2011, in UP. Additional sessions judge Ajay Tyagi, in his judgment delivered on Monday, had mentioned that Reena Devi, wife of Jitendra was allegedly killed for dowry in Kamalpur village under Sakit police station limits over a demand for a motorcycle. Due to non-fulfilment of the demand, she was killed by her husband Jitendra and his mother Rambeti on May 4, 2011. An FIR in this connection was filed and based on the evidence on record, the judge found the accused guilty and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment. (Source-http://odishasamaya.com/news/7-years-jail-for-man-and-his-mother-in-dowry-case/46533 JSPL, Villagers Asked to Settle Issue Amicably ANGUL: The sixth meeting of Rehabilitation and Peripheral Developmental Advisory Committee (RPDAC) for Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) which was held here on Wednesday after a gap of three years ended on an optimistic note.At the meeting, which was attended by Government officials, JSPL staff and representatives of villagers, the JSPL and affected villagers were directed to sort out the issues amicably.The villagers have been opposing JSPL expansion over their demands of hike in land compensation per acre to Rs 50 lakh and permanent job to a member from each family.The meeting was chaired by RDC, North, NBS Rajput. DIG of North Central Range Rajesh Kumar, Angul Collector SR Jadhav, SP Rajesh Pandit Uttam Rao and other senior Government officials attended the meeting. JSPL Group Director (HR) Rajeev Bhadauria, Executive Director Dinesh Kumar Sarogi and his team attended the meeting. Sanatan Sahu and his team represented the villagers. Local MP Nagendra Pradhan was also present.Regrading the demand for job, the RDC made it clear that the job will be given by the company as per the guidelines under the State Rehabilitation Policy and any individual complaint will be redressed by the Sub Committee headed by Angul Collector. “The RPDAC has no legal right to revise the land rate and the villagers and company have been asked to settle the issue amicably. A meeting to be held on June 12 will find a solution to the demands within a month as per the RPDAC decision,” the Collector said.Jadhav maintained that the meeting was positive with participation of all concerned and the steel project officials expressing hope that the issue will be sorted out soon. “Had the Praja Sangh attended the Sub-Committee meetings held thrice, an amicable solution would have been there by now,” he said.Due to land hurdles, the second phase expansion of JSPL’s six million tonne annual capacity integrated steel plant here has come to a halt.RPDAC meet  Due to land hurdles, second phase expansion of JSPL’s six million tonne annual capacity integrated steel plant has come to a halt  Meet held after a gap of three years to decide on expansion of JSPL project  The villagers have been opposing JSPL expansion demanding hike in land compensation per acre to `50 lakh and permanent job to each family member

(Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/JSPL-Villagers-Asked-to-Settle-Issue- Amicably/2015/06/04/article2848710.ece) Bhushan Steel imposed Rs 14 lakh fine for violating safety norms

BHUBANESWAR: A court in Dhenkanal town, 100 km from here, on Tuesday imposed Rs 14 lakh fine on two top management level officers of Bhushan Steel Limited at Kantabania in Dhenkanal district for violation of safety norms in seven different cases. Public prosecutor Ranjan Pradhan said chief judicial magistrate Rekha Prasad awarded Rs one lakh fine each on factory occupier Rahul Sengupta and manager Satish Tyagi in each of the seven cases, making the total fine amount Rs 14 lakh. The cases registered between 2008 and 2009 pertain to violation of provisions of Orissa Factories Rules, 1950, and the Factories Act, 1948 leading to fatal mishaps. Seven persons were killed on various dates due to different reasons such road accidents inside the steel plant, falling from a height and for objects falling on them and burn injuries

(source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Bhushan-Steel-imposed-Rs-14-lakh-fine-for-violating-safety- norms/articleshow/47599756.cms)

Anti Posco group observe Black Day, Urged Odisha to return acquired land

Report by Kahnu Nanda, Jagatsinghpur: Commemorating Posco MoU’s 10th anniversary anti Posco outfit PoscoPratirodha Sangram Samiti [PPSS] was organized a protest meeting and observed black dayin the proposed South Korean steel project site in Dhinkia village on Monday. PPSS president Abhaya Sahoo accompanied by hundreds of outfit sympathizers including local villagers and women took outa rally from Dhinkia village and converged at Patanahat where PPSS hosted a massive public meeting. MrSahoo Addressing the gathering PPSS head Mr Sahoo described about ten years have been passed Odisha government signed MoU with Posco, no tangible progress happened for project inception except 2700 acres of government land retrieved for the project purpose. Ironically the state government has become unable renewing the MoU besides it has expired five years ago. Th project has been sufferings manifold obstructions and legal hiatus atNational Green Tribunal and union ministry of Environment and Forests sinceyears, Causing Posco faces uncertainty in mineral linkage front, environment clearance neither the state government nor Posco is sure about the project. The entire anti Posco movement which had started here seven years ago has received global recognition,the anti industry contingents across the world affiliated our agitation, Sahoo informed. Moreover PPSS chief appealed Odisha governmentto return the government land to the affected land losers which had acquired forcibly two years back, and withdraw the false cases against the anti Posco leaders and rejuvenate the forest cover and planting trees which had been axed during land acquisition in proposed project site in the year 2013. Among others PPSS leaders Prasant Paikaray, Nityananda Swain, Manorama Khatua were spoke on the occasion and allthe attending activists were wore black batch protesting Posco MoU’s 10th anniversary. However hundreds of betel vein losers from Posco site villages were staged demonstration and protest meeting in front of collector office here on Monday. The protesters fumed against Odsiha government and Posco authority and lamented causing forcible land acquisition they lost their livelihood after their betel veins had razed, the R&R policy meant for the industrial displacement ignore them as consequence they have become unable receiving due compensation and monthly pension till date. The activists led by its leader Pradipta Ram submitted a memorandum before Jagatsinghpur collector.

(Source-http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=59848) Bolangir custodial death: NHRC seeks Odisha govt reply on compensation

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show-cause notice to the Odisha government as to why a monetary compensation of Rs Five lakh should not be recommended to be paid to the next of kin of deceased Basanta Pradhan, a victim of custodial torture at the Balangir police station.

The national human rights watchdog has directed the chief secretary to respond to its notice in this regard within six weeks. Adjudicating separate petitions filed by advocate Prabir Kumar Das, rights activists Manoj Kumar Jena and Jayanta Das and others, the NHRC issued show-cause notice to the state government. The NHRC has stated that the report received by it from the additional ADG Human Rights Protection Cell of the state government said that during investigation, sufficient evidence has been collected to establish the complicity of the accused persons in the aforesaid offences. Further, the supervisory officer has opined in the report that it is a true case under sections 120B/341/342/343/323/330/348/302/34 of the IPC against the then Inspector In charge of Bolangir Town police station Tareuqe Ahmed, Anant Kumar Pradhan and Malay Kumar Panda (both sub inspectors of police), Dilip Kumar Dang assistant sub inspector, Vrindavan Meher constable and Saroj Kumar Naik, homeguard/driver all of Bolangir Police Station, the NHRC said in its notice. The Commission’s notice said: “The Commission has carefully considered the report. It is a case of death in police custody. Admittedly, the deceased was taken to the Titlagarh police station by the police personnel of the said police station on the allegation of his stealing a mobile phone. After that, the condition of the arrestee became serious so he was taken to Government Hospital for treatment where he was declared dead.” “The allegations made by the complainant in his complaint dated 29.6.2014 that the deceased was tortured by the police is now admitted in the report of Addl. DG, HRPC. Therefore, the State of Odisha is strictly liable to pay necessary compensation to the family of the deceased. The Chief Secretary to the Government of Odisha is directed to show cause u/s 18 (a) (i) of the PHR Act, 1993 as to why a monetary compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs) should not be recommended to be paid to the next of the kin of the deceased prisoner within six weeks”, the NHRC’s notice said. The national watch dog’s notice to the state government has further said that the reply should also indicate the progress made in the arrest of the accused persons involved in the crime and it be also intimated what departmental action was taken against the erring police officials. It may be recalled that a local of Hatapadapada in Titlagarh, Basant Pradhan was picked up by Balangir police with the help of Titlagarh police on June 10 on charges of buying a stolen mobile phone handset. Basant’s family had alleged that he was released by Balangir police on June 15 after being subjected to severe torture while in custody.They alleged that Basant had remained unwell since then. Basant was declared dead by the doctors soon after he was taken to the hospital for treatment on June 28 last year after his condition aggravated. Following Basant’s death angry locals ransacked office of the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) setting fire to police vehicles, files and documents and motor bikes kept in the malkhana, damaged computers and furniture demanding the arrest of policemen responsible for his alleged custodial death. (source-http://odishasuntimes.com/2015/06/21/bolangir-custodial-death-nhrc-seeks-odisha-govt-reply-on-compensation/)

Rights body looks into torture of activists The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the Railway IG to enquire and submit a report within a month about the allegation against the Inspector in charge (IIC) of Cuttack GRP for illegally arresting six SUCI activists, including a woman and allegedly torturing them in custody. “While the party activists were engaged in public subscription collection in specified party boxes, the IIC booked them on charges of extortion,” said Khageswar Sethy, a local office-bearer of the SUCI. Not only were party workers wrongfully arrested, they were also illegally detained in the lockup and subjected to inhuman treatment, Sethy said.

(source-http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/rights-body-looks-into-torture-of-activists/article7313778.ece)

OHRC Seeks Report on Ganjam Lockup Death BHUBANESWAR: A day after the alleged custodial death of a 28-year-old man at Jagannathprasad police station in Ganjam district, the Odisha Human Rights Commission on Monday directed the Collector and SP to file detailed reports on the matter. Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the Commission has directed the district authorities to submit the reports within four weeks. Acting chairperson Justice BK Mishra contended the reports disclose a case of custodial death due to police torture, raising questions of violation of the human rights of the deceased. The Collector and SP should file separate reports before the next date of hearing on July 13, he ordered. Gourahari Swain of Patadhar village under Jagannathprasad Police station had been picked up from his house on the night of June 8 in connection with a theft that had taken place in a nearby village. But the next morning they shifted him to the Jagannathprasad community health centre (CHC) in a serious condition. He succumbed within one and a half hours after admission. When the family members of the deceased reached CHC, Jagannathprasad, they found injury marks on his body. They have alleged that the police had subjected Gourahari to third degree torture, which led to his death. Irate villagers gheraoed the police station and the hospital following his death. While the district administration released `22,000 for the family to conduct the funeral, SP, Ganjam ordered a probe into the incident. Cases have also been registered against the police officials of the Jagannathprasad police station. (source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/OHRC-Seeks-Report-on-Ganjam-Lockup- Death/2015/06/11/article2860337.ece) NHRC Seeks Report on Kandhamal Kidney Sale BHUBANESWAR:Taking stern note of rising incidents of kidney sale in the State, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Government on the latest happening where a poverty-stricken Dalit youth of Kandhamal parted with his organ for money. The Commission has directed the Collector and the SP of Kandhamal to file their reports within four weeks. The directions came in response to a petition filed by rights activist Akhand demanding action against the people involved and direction to the Government to take strong steps to prevent such illegalities. Kanhu Behera (20) had sold one of his kidneys to a man in Brahmapur for Rs 3.5 lakh in April this year. The kidney transplant had been done at a hospital in Sri Lanka. Kanhu has himself admitted to have sold his organ for money to construct a house.The only son of a daily wage earner Barun Behera of Harijan Sahi of Phulbani of Kandhamal district, he did odd jobs to help his father run the family. He had to discontinue his studies due to acute poverty and decided to sell one of his kidneys after coming in contact with a broker to make a good house for his family. “Due to acute poverty, a Dalit poor boy was forced to sell a kidney. His family has no BPL card nor provided with any Government assistance,” Akhand alleged. The State Government has also ordered a Crime Branch probe into the whole incident establishing the entire trail from tracking Kanhu and the recipient, middleman racket, involvement of local hospital or doctor, arranging passport and travel documents and visit to Sri Lanka for surgery. Right Move ■ NHRC has directed Collector and SP of Kandhamal to file their reports within four weeks ■ The State Government has also ordered a Crime Branch probe into the incident ■ Kanhu Behera had sold one of his kidneys to a man in Brahmapur for Rs 3.5 lakh in April this year ■ The kidney transplant had been done at a hospital in Sri Lanka (Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/NHRC-Seeks-Report-on-Kandhamal-Kidney- Sale/2015/06/18/article2873021.ece) NHRC asked Odisha Police to take necessary action in Namatara police firing case

Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Superintendent of Police of Kendrapada to take necessary action in Namatara police firing and lathi charge case. Acting on the complaint of rights activist Akhand, the Commission has order the district police “to take appropriate action within 8 weeks and to inform the complainant of the action taken in the matter.” Odisha Police fired bullets upon some women who were demanding to close a wine shop in Namatara village under Kendrapara . On 8 March, the day of International Women Day, hundreds of women gathered and organised protest rally in front of the shop at around 12 0’lock. Police reached at the spot and started firing and resume lathi charge. Several people were injured in the police action. “They have several times organised dharana, protest rally and submitted memorandum to the district collector to cancel the license of the liquor shop. But all was in vain”, alleged Akhand.

(source-http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=59498

NHRC seeks ATR on pregnant Odisha woman thrown off train Expressing dissatisfaction over the inaction of the police in the arrest of the accused, who had pushed his pregnant wife out of a moving train in Odisha’s Rayagada district on May 26 this year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday asked the district SP to submit an action taken report (ATR) on the case.

Sanju Kerketa Informing this to the media today, Rayagada SP, K Siva Subramani said the Commission has asked the police to provide the background to the incident, circumstances which forced Suraj Sahu of Bangomunda village of Sundargarh district to push his wife Sanju Kerketa out of the train, steps taken for the treatment of the injured woman and the steps taken by the police to nab the absconding husband. The SP said that the two special teams of Rayagada police during a series of raids at several places in Bisra, Rourkela and Sundargarh areas, have found that the statements given by the injured woman to the police are false. He said the police would accompany the woman and begin fresh investigation after her recovery. “The woman, in the meanwhile, has successfully undergone a surgery on her left leg at the VSS Medical College and Hospital at Burla,” he added. (Source-http://odishasuntimes.com/2015/06/17/nhrc-seeks-atr-on-pregnant-odisha-woman-thrown-off-train/)

Man Dies of 'Custodial Torture' in Ganjam Dist BERHAMPUR: Tension ran high in Patadhar village under Jagannathprasad block of Ganjam district following the death of a villager, Gourahari Swain (40), allegedly due to custodial torture on Tuesday. In a written complaint to Ganjam SP Narasingha Bhol, wife of Gourahari, Kuntilata alleged that personnel from the Jagannathprasad police station had taken her husband from their house on Monday night and physically assaulted him. “They dragged my husband out of our house at around 11 pm and took him to the police station on charges of his involvement in a theft case that had taken place in a nearby village a fortnight back,” she said.

Police personnel deployed at Patadhar village on Tuesday I Express At around 7 am on Tuesday, Gourahari was brought by the police to the community health centre (CHC) atJagannathprasad with multiple injuries and 30 minutes later, he succumbed. As soon as the news of Gourahari’s death spread, Kuntilata accompanied by other villagers reached the CHC and did not allow police to send the body for post-mortem. They also blocked the road in front of the CHC for over four hours. Apprehending public ire, police locked up the Jagannathprasad police station from inside. On being informed, the SP, Bhanjanagar Sub-Collector Sudhakar Sabar and senior Government officials reached the village to pacify the irate villagers. While the Sub-Collector released Rs 22,000 for funeral rites of Gourahari, a case was registered against all the police officials present in the police station during the incident. The SP informed that a high-level inquiry has been ordered in the case and investigation will be completed within 24 hours. Stringent action will be taken against those found guilty, he added. One platoon of police force has been deployed in Patadhar village to prevent any untoward incident. Sources said police suspected Gourahari’s involvement in the theft case in Khamrapalli, situated near Patadhar village. When they questioned him about it on Monday night, a frightened Gourahari reportedly admitted to have committed the theft. However, he could not give any details about the theft during interrogation. (Source-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Man-Dies-of-Custodial-Torture-in-Ganjam- Dist/2015/06/10/article2859028.ece) Recognition Rights Converted Into Land Distribution Scheme by BJD Govt in Odisha: Civil Society

Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: In a press meet held on 3rd June 2015 at Lohia Academy, Civil Society Organizations alleged that Forest (Recognition) Rights, 2006 has been converted into land distribution scheme by the BJD Govt. in the State. Civil Society Organizations working on different issues and monitoring the activities of the BJD Govt. in the State had reviewed the acts of the Govt. over last 14 years on last 31st May at Lohia Academy. Giving its report card on BJD Govt. Civil Society has said that “the biggest achievement of the BJD Govt. is lunching populist schemes in the State and successfully managing vote bank and the biggest failure is failure to implement the rights acts enacted from 2005 in the State.” “The failure of the Govt. can also be counted from bigger scams like Chit Fund, Mining, Land allotment, Dal purchase and loot of NREGA funds etc in the State” Giving its Report Card on the implementation of historic FRA, 2006 in the State, Civil Society said “When the FRA, 2006 recognizes the pre- existing individual and community rights over forest land and forest, in last 7 years of its implementation, Govt. of Odisha used the Act as Land Distribution Scheme in the State. While the Govt. is claiming to be the No.1 in distributing highest number of Individual Forest Rights(IFR) titles (3,44.430 by 30th April 2015) in the whole country, the fact is that in maximum cases, IFR titles have been recognized without demarcation of the occupied forest land leading to serious conflicts in the coming days. In the hoard of issuing of highest number of titles, It has also issued IFR titles over non-forest land. One can find more discrepancies in those districts where maximum IFR titles have been issued like Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Nabarangpur,Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput and Mayurbhaja etc. When up to 10 acres of forest land can be recognized under FRA, the Govt. of Odisha is consistently limiting the average forest land recognized under IFR to 1.58 acres only from last 2009. In the whole implementation of the Act, the Bureaucrats have played arbitrary role bypassing the empowered Gram Sabha. Govt. of Odisha also openly bypassed the 2/3 quorum of the Gram Sabha.” Besides, Civil Society has identified the following issues in the FRA implementation in the State; 1. Despite Gram Sabha’s recommendations, all most all IFR claims of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers(OTFDs) were arbitrarily rejected by officials of Sub-Divisional Level Committee(SDLC). Even Govt. Officials have arbitrarily put the blame of rejection of IFR claims upon the Gram Sabhas in case of 91,504 cases. 2. Govt. of Odisha has failed to recognize the Community Forest Rights(CFR) in the State which is very important one. Besides, it is continue to mislead the public of Odisha also to the MoTA over the CFR titles distributed and total forest area recognized under CFR. While the State Level Monitoring Committee(SLCM) had reported in March, 2015 the total CFR claims filed was 12,500 in the State and 3,474 CFR titles were distributed over 1,80,163.50 acres of forest land, but in April, 2015 , the same SLMC said that the total CFR claims filed in the State is 6572 and only 1511 CFR titles have been issued over 97,830.91 acres of forest land. 3. Despite provision under FRA and Guidelines issued by MoTA on 8th Nov, 2013 for the identification and conversion of 000’ of forest and un-surveyed villages falling in the reserve forest area in the State, Govt. of Odisha has failed to convert a single forest village into revenue village in the State. 4. While the FRA has made the KL Pluckers owner of the Kendu Leaf, the Govt. of Odisha illegally continue to loot the around 9 lakhs KL Pluckers families in the State by eating around 80% of the profit earned form KL business in the State. 5. Govt. of Odisha has also violated FRA and MoEF order of August, 2009 in which recognition of forest rights and consent of the Gram Sabha is mandatory before diversion of forest land for non forest uses. The SDLC who are supposed to be the protector of the forest rights have become instrument at the hand of the Private companies and are seriously engaged in producing forged gram sabha resolution for the diversion of forest land. 6. Govt. of Odisha is also illegally promoting VSS/JFMC through “Ama Jungle Yojana” which is contradictory to FRA and dividing the community people at the Gram Sabha level. Besides, Civil Society Organizations reviewed the achievements and failures of BJD Govt. in various fields like social security, employment generation, agriculture, health, education, disaster management, governance, RTI and Human Rights which directly concern the people at grassroots level and have produced report card. Among others who raised the various issues in the review meeting are Prafulla Samantara, Ravi Das, Pradip Pradhan, Anial Pradhan, Gaouranga Mohapatra, Biswajit Mohanty, Manohar Chauhan, Ashok Mallik, Debendra Sutar, Shaik Abdulla, Manoj Jena, Mira Kinnar, Sudarsan Chhotaray, Ashok Nanda, Ranjit Patnaik, Sudhir Mohanty, Sripati Singh, Bimal Kumar and Khirod Rout etc.

(Source-http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=59454) Atrocities against SCs, STs: Odisha to Set up Three Special Courts Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is taking steps to set up three special courts in Cuttack, Bolangir and Balasore districts to try cases of atrocities against SC and ST people. “Steps are being taken for establishment of three special courts each in Cuttack, Bolangir and Balasore districts for which funds have been provided for construction of court building,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressing a state-level vigilance and monitoring committee here. The government has already designated 92 district and sessions courts and additional district and sessions courts as special courts for the trial of such cases. The chief minister said the government has approved 390 legal aid cells in the state to provide free legal services to people from SC/ST communities. “As many as 697 legal retainers have been appointed in 350 legal aid cells. Steps are being taken to operationalise the remaining legal aid cells in the coming months,” he added. Informing that the government has enhanced the monetary relief to the victims of atrocities by 50 percent, the chief minister said a total of 1,536 atrocity victims have been given Rs.4.5 crore as monetary relief in 2014-15. Encouraging inter-caste marriages among communities, he said the government has provided Rs.3.86 crore in cash incentives to 802 couples in 2014-15. Patnaik said 55 hostels for SC and ST students have been sanctioned in the tribal dominated districts.

(source-http://www.odisha360.com/2015/06/06/atrocities-against-scs-sts-odisha-to-set-up-three-special-courts/)

Compiled by – Ranjit Sutar, CSNR, VIM-491, Sailashree Vihar, Bhubaneswar -21, Odisha, Email: [email protected],[email protected], Ph: 0674-2741557, Mo-09777496981.