The Union Home Ministry has asked the State Government to take action in the matter of septuagenarian scribe and former DFO Nadiya Chand Kanungo, who was attacked four times by his tenants three years ago in his residence at Madhusudan Nagar in Tulasipur area of Cuttack city.
Acting on a complaint letter lodged by Kanungo on September 15 last with the Union Home Minister, the Centre had written a letter to the State Home department’s Principal Secretary on November 10 to look into
the matter.
The Union Home Ministry also asked the State Government to give a reply to the concerned petitioner in the matter.
Notably, Kanungo lives with his family comprising his wife and children in his house. He had an altercation with the tenants on November 26, 2011 over unauthorised use of electricity by the latter.
Following the incident, on February 2, 2012, some hooligans, including tenants Prakash Sahu, Prahlad Sahu, Dullu, Nandu Singh and others attacked Kanungo and his wife during cleaning of the house premises. later, they attacked his son Bibhudatta, an advocate, while he was entering the house, he added.
Kanungo later lodged a complaint with the local police, but the matter could not be solved. When the police didn’t take any action against the tenants and their relatives, the scribe approached the Cuttack DCP, the Twin City Commissioner of Police, the DGP, the Home Secretary, the Chief Minister, the Odisha Governor, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State Commission for Women, seeking justice.
On January 21 last, the NHRC had directed the Superintendent of Police, Cuttack to take appropriate action within eight weeks.
later on April 30, the State Public Grievances and Pension Administration department wrote to the Cuttack Collector to look into the matter personally and take needful action under intimation to the department. Even the office of the Governor had directed the Cuttack police to take appropriate action in the matter.
“Now the Union Home Ministry has asked the State to take action in the matter. I’m waiting for the State Government’s response,” said Kanungo.