The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Friday issued a notice to the DGP, Chief Secretary of Odisha, district Collector and Superintendent of Police of Balangir for submitting an action taken report (ATR) within a week over the death of a Dalit minor boy on June 17.
In a barbaric act, Gunanidhi Bag, a Scheduled Caste minor boy, was reportedly beaten to death for taking bath in a village pond on June 17. The ghastly act occurred in Khaliapali village under the Muribahal police station limits in Balangir district.
Acting on a representation filed before rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the notice has been issued seeking reply within seven days.
Tripathy alleged that the brutality was committed over caste prejudices. He also informed to the Commission a painful issue in 2013 wherein the Sambalpur district Collector had to provide financial relief to a 40-year-old Dalit woman and her family who faced brutal atrocities by their fellow villagers at Jayaghanta village under the Dhama police station limits in Sambalpur district on September 6, 2012. The families still live in the lurch.
Both the case are heinous in nature and need immediate intervention of the Commission.The inaction, negligence and failure of the officials including the police pose a serious question of human rights. It not only violates the provisions of the Constitution of India but also the PHR Act, 1993 and the POA (SC ST) Act, Tripathy alleged.
He requested the NCSC to direct the DGP, Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Odisha to investigate the case by CB-CID and take legal action against errant officials and culprits and compensate and rehabilitate the victims with assurance of the benefits under the social welfare schemes in both the cases.
