Questioning the ability of the Crime Branch to investigate the brutal murder of farmer and rights activist Krupasindhu Sahu of Niali, people from different walks of life on Friday took out a procession and held a rally in front of the State Assembly reiterating their demand for a CBI probe into the killing. “How ill the Crime Branch which completely failed to investigate lady teacher Itishree Pradhan murder case forcing the Supreme Court to handover the case to the CBI be able to conduct the investigation properly,” asked Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan convenor Pradip Pradhan.
Since it is apprehended that there was a deep-laid plot behind the murder of Krupasindhu and some ruling BJD leaders are involved, the CBI probe can only unearth the fact, added Pradhan. Hundreds of farmers, RTI activists and human rights defenders who were gathered under the banner of Union of Protection of Rights Activists demanded immediate amendment to the ‘anti-people’ Odisha RTI Rules-2005 which is ultra vires the parent Act especially for withdrawing the compulsory provision for submission of proof of citizenship at the time of filing RTI applications and also for abolishing the compulsory provision for using the Form-A that requires inter alia disclosure of several personal details like permanent address and name of father/spouse.
The agitators also reiterated their demands for opening of an exclusive desk at the Director General of Police’s office for RTI and human rights activists to receive the complaints of attacks and threats against them and to take prompt action against the accused. The activists urged the Government to provide Rs 10-lakh compensation to deceased Krupasindhu’s family.
A memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister to this effect. Among others, Manoj Jena, Pradipta Nayak, Mahammad Jiauddin, Sachikant Pradhan, Prof Jantrana Parikhit, Rabi Das and Prafulla Samantara participated in the demonstration.