Several right groups have condemned the illegal detention and custodial torture of Dadhi Kadraka, an activist of Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti (NSS), by the Rayagada police.
They also condemned the threats to Lingaraj Azad, an advisor of the NSS, by the Rayagada SP not to organise any meeting and protest in the locality and postpone a proposed rally against police brutality on October 23 at the district headquarters town.
They described the incident as an attack on democratic rights of people as well as State sponsored attack on dissent voices for the interest of corporate like Vedanta.
It may be noted that on October 6, the police picked up Kadraka from his village without any warrant and severely tortured for four days and left him in a nearby police station on October 10, who is now incapable to walk.
On the other hand, the SP, Rayagada threatened Azad not to organise any meeting, protest and rally against the administration. He even pressurized him to postpone a proposed rally on October 23 at Rayagada by NSS against the police brutality and unwarranted arrest of local tribes.
Various persons from different organisations like Prafulla Samantara from NAPM, advocate Biswapriya Kanungo and Narendra Mohanty from Campaign Against Fabricated Cases(CAFC),Odisha, Radhakanta Sethi from All India People’s Forum(AIPF), Bhalachandra Sarangi from AIKKMS, Debaranjan from GASS, Srikant Mohanty from Chasi Mulia Sangh, Odisha, Pramodini Pradhan from PUCL, Satya Mahar from Sachetan Nagarik Manch, Kalahandi, Prashant Paikray from PPSS, Sini Sae from Bisthapan Birodhi Janamanch, Sukinda, advocate Bansidhar Das from Committee for Release of Political Prisoners, Gopinath Majhi from CSD, Odisha, Balabhadra Mallick from Banabasi Surakshya Parisada, Kandhamal, Satish Mishra from INSAF have condemned the incident.