The Dalit Vikash Manch of Nuapada district on Thursday staged a dharna in front of the office of the Superintendent of Police here demanding immediate arrest of one Harish Chandra Panda for allegedly assaulting Rabi Mangaraj, a dalit activist of the district. About a thousand dalit people from different parts of the district congregated to express their resentment against the police inaction. They blocked Natiomal Highway-353 for more than three hours.
Mangaraj was severely injured in an assault by Panda and his associates a fortnight ago in front of the District Court. “We demand immediate arrest of Panda and others who are operating in the background to eliminate Mangaraj,” said the dalit leaders.
“Panda threatened me three days before he assaulted. I had reported about this to the Nuapada police, but the police did not initiate any action which resulted in my suffering,” said Mangaraj, who is still undergoing treatment.
Mangaraj has been regularly raising voice against atrocity on dalits as well as corruption in Government programmes, which has become a eyesore for some corrupt leaders of the district. He gave moral support to one Gangu Satnami, a scavenger, who was beaten by Panda a few months ago, to lodge a case with the police. Panda had been booked under Section 307 of IPC and atrocity Act for assaulting Satnami. The other reason for targeting Mangaraj was his fight against corruption.
“I was on hunger strike demanding action against corruption in road construction work in Kotenchuan gram panchayat of Nuapada block that irked the corrupt politicians of the ruling party. They are in the background of attack by Panda,” said Mangaraj.
Manch president Kamal Charan Tandi led the demonstration. Former Minister Bhajaman Behera and Nimai Tandi, Surendra Kumar and other leaders of the district were present. A memorandum was submitted to the SP, who assured that Panda would be arrested within a week.