Police atrocity on civilians is increasing day by day in our State. In the name of maintaining law and order, the police are adopting coercive methods to harass citizens and carrying out unlawful activities,” said the speakers while addressing a State-level convention of the Nagarik Adhikar Suraksha Abhijan here on Sunday.
Abhijan convener Rabi Das said the State Government and the police are used to work for the interest of the corporate houses and mining barons at the cost of the people. The people who are fighting against unjust and illegal activities and carrying out mass movements for protection of land, water and other natural resources are being harassed and unlawfully detained and put behind the bar by the police, he said, adding that the Crime Branch and Vigilance are also used to protect the ruling class and harass leaders of opposition parties.
The speakers also said that on the plea of curbing Maoist menace, the police have unleashed a reign of terror in the tribal regions like Narayanpatna. Since last few years, in many places where students, teachers and Government employees are fighting for their rights or protesting democratically against the Government are being attacked, beaten up and lathi-charged by the police, they added.
“The fundamental rights of people are also at stake,” said social activist Prafulla Samantara.
The speakers including freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Patnaik, lawyers Biswapriya Kanungo and Khirod Rout, RTI activist Pradip Pradhan and activist Ajit Panda participated in the discussion on various issues and sought to develop a strategy for protection of democratic right of citizens.