Angul District Additional SP Jadunath Hansdah on March 16 reached Tarava in Dhenkanal district along with BJP Kishan Morcha leader Er Debashisa Hota to conduct a fresh inquiry into the BJP leader Salman Rout murder case during the last Panchayat election.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had notably directed the DG Police of Odisha for a fresh inquiry after the earlier probe by the Dhenkanal SP was not accepted as neutral and fair by complainant Hota whose comments were sought by the Commission.
Hota had prayed the NHRC to discard the report of the Dhenkanal SP and sought payment of compensation and punishment to the then In-charge of Dhenkanal Sadar police station for misuse of power by ordering lathi-charge, falsely implicating and arbitrarily arresting the family members of the deceased.
The Commission considered the matter and directed the DGP Odisha to get a fresh enquiry conducted by a senior police officer of the district other than from Dhenkanal and submit the report within six weeks along with copy of injury report and treatment record of the policemen and injured persons.
Further NHRC directed for involving Er Hota and his witnesses in the fresh inquiry process.
Notably, after the political murder of Salman Rout during last panchayat elections, the accused had allegedly threatened the eye witnesses in front of the then Dhenkanal Sadar IIC Gyana Ranjan Samal to kill them if they fight for justice.
The police had lathi charged female relatives including mother of slain Rout.
ines Minister and Kamakhyanagar BJD MLA Prafulla Mallick allegedly had pressurized the police and Government machineries to save his close aide who was behind the murder.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had met the parents of deceased at Tarava and suggested them to move the NHRC. Obeying Pradhan, Hota had lodged a case before the NHRC on behalf of the bereaved family members.