A family living in Haripa village under Erasama area has been ostracised by the fellow villagers for the last seven days. The villagers suspended all social communications to the victim family and put a ban on it to use public roads, tube wells, school and Anganwadi centre and shops. Even the family has been unable to buy daily ration and medicine. Despite complaint with the police, the latter have not turned up to provide the family any protection.
Sources said, two weeks ago, a cycle was stolen in the village. The villagers soon approached a local sorcerer to zero in on the thief, who said that Das had committed the theft. later, the villagers called a Gram Sabha, where Das was summoned up and interrogated about the theft.
But Das defended him saying that he was innocent. However, convinced that none but Das was the culprit, the angry villagers forcibly tied him in a rope. The meeting then endorsed a resolution stating that Das family be ostracized and all social communications to the family be put off.
“After the ban slapped on us, we are spending a horrible life, consuming water from the unhygienic ponds. Besides, we have run out of food stuffs but since the ration shop has been banned for us, we are unable to buy grocery and other essential items. Our children have been restricted going to local primary school and Anganwadi centre. Though we have lodged a complaint at the Erasama police station describing our plight four days ago, but no action has taken yet,” fumed Das.
Meanwhile, social activist and human rights lawyer Dr Sushant Kunongo has visited the victim family on Monday and enquired about its welfare. He has assured the family that the matter would be intimated to both the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
When contacted, Superintendent of Police SB Bhoi admitted that a complaint had been received from Das and the District Human Rights Cell had been asked to probe the incident. He assured that appropriate action will be taken against the culprits.