At a time when opposition parties are getting ready to protest the Odisha Police Bill, 2015 in the Assembly on the ground that it violates the Supreme Court (SC) guidelines, a united forum of 22 civil society organisations on Thursday rejected the Bill citing that in its present form it would lead to “militarisation” and “privatisation” of the police.
Demanding withdrawal of the Bill rights activist Biswapriya Kanoongo told mediapersons here that while the Bill gives much autonomy to the police it is not accountable to anybody for their misdeeds.
“In the name of Supreme Court guidelines the State Government has introduced the autocratic Odisha Police Bill, 2015 in the Assembly without consulting concerned stakeholders and putting the Bill in the public domain,” said Kanoongo.
Slamming the Government for compiling the archaic Odisha Police Act, 1861, and Odisha State Armed Police Act, 1946 together, Kanoongo said the State Government is trying to impose “Police State” in the State.
“The Bill lacks certain fundamental issues. In district levels the SP will not be accountable to the District Magistrate which is anti-people. While the Police Bill-2013 had the provision of appointment of lokayukta as the Police Complaint Authority but in the present Bill the Government has make a provision to appoint a Government official for the crucial post. More so if a police officer tortures anybody illegally, he/she cannot be challenged in the court of law as per the new Bill,” said Kanoongo.
Rights activist Pradipta Nayak stated that the Bill has been introduced to protect the interest of the multinational companies, corporate houses. “Since the Bill gives enough power to the police and the Government is facing mass movements against various projects, the police will arrest the protestors to which they will not be accountable,” said Nayak.
Stating that Section 57 and 63 of the Bill will completely demolish the fundamental rights of the common people, the rights activist demanded immediate withdrawal of the Bill.
They also slammed the Government for not taking leader of Opposition as a member of the proposed State Security Commission. Among others, human rights defender Akhanda and Chandranath Dani were present.