The Dhenkanal administration paid Rs 10,000 as compensation to anti-corruption activist and farmer leader Debashisha Hota in a police harassment case.
Earlier, Hota, who is spearheading a movement in the Dhenkanal district for proper compensation to the land oustees by several steel and power plants, was threatened by a local PRI representative to stop the agitation or face dire consequences. The incident had happened on April 9, 2012, when Samiti member of Mahulpal Gram Panchayat Sushant Pattanaik had asked Hota and two other farmer leaders, Nibaran Mahabhoi and Sarat Behera, to refrain from organising the farmers and land losers against the RSB Metal Tech Private limited. He had even warned of killing the trio if they did not oblige.
Against this, Hota had lodged an FIR at Kamakhyanagar police station. However, Pattanaik had rushed to the police station and tried to heckle Hota in front of ASI Duryodhan Padhy. To the dismay of Hota, even the then IIC of Kamakhyanagar police station Udit Narayan Pany had not registered the FIR. Hota had brought it to the notice of the district SP but in vain. later, he had appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene in the case.
The rights body had ordered a probe into the case by the Dhenkanal police. The then SP Gajabhiye had asked the Kamakhyanagar SDPO to conduct the probe. However, the probe was shoddy. Not satisfied with the probe, the NHRC asked the district police for proper investigation in the case and justice to the victim. This time, new SP Manoranjan Mohanty ordered for a fresh inquiry and registration of case against the accused. Talcher SDPO NK Sahu was assigned to inquire the matter.
It was found that both Kamakhyanagar police station IIC Pany and ASI Padhi had neglected their duty. So, the duo was put under suspension. On November 11, 2013, the NHRC in yet another order asked the State Government to compensate Hota by Rs 10,000 for delay in registration of the FIR and harassment of the victim.