The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Sundargarh SP to submit a report pertaining to arrest and court-forwarding of two minor boys by the Bhasma police about three months ago on charges of stealing iron pipes from the proposed NTPC site at Darlipali. The NHRC has given four week’s time to the SP for submission of the report.
Sources said, the two along with six other youths had been arrested and forwarded to court by the police on charges of stealing iron pipes on May 19, 2015. later, family members of the two claimed before the District Judge Court that the police had sent them (minor boys) to court by showing them as majors. The family members too claimed that police did so ignoring age proofs submitted by them.
later, the court found that the family members’ claim was genuine as per school certificates. The two belonging to Bhalubahal village under the Hemgiri police station are reportedly studying in Class-X in the Kanika High School.
Sangita Swain of the Human Rights Watch had lodged a complaint before the NHRC in this regard on June 30. In her petition, Swain urged the NHRC to take action against the errant police officials and to direct the Government to give `10 lakh to the two poor youths for humiliation and mental agony meted out to them.
To this notice, SP R Prakash said a proper reply would be sent to the NHRC within due time.