The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to save villagers of Hatabanpur under Basapur Panchayat of Kendrapada district from animal attacks. Rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy in his petition on February 16 last brought to the notice of the NHRC a complaint that failure of the Ministry of Environment and Forests in protecting the villagers resulted in the death of one while six others sustained injuries due to prolonged man-animal conflict. The careless attitude of the forest officials and the local administration amounts to torture, harassment and poses serious question of basic human rights, he had said. The petitioner requested the apex human rights watchdog to investigate the case by a team of experts and direct the State to rehabilitate the villagers with safety, provide medical care to the injured and compensation to all the victims.