The Kalahandi SP denied the charge in the findings of the Special Rapporteur of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of rights violation of 47 tribals.
Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy had filed a plaint with the NHRC that 47 male poor tribal villagers of Rengapali were illegally arrested by the police of Odisha. The other male villagers are threatened to the extent that they are hiding themselves away from the village. The poor helpless women and children are starving and running from pillar to post for help but the State Government has miserably failed to protect their basic human rights.
Accepting the request of Tripathy, the NHRC had sent its Special Rapporteur to investigate the cases and make a comprehensive study over the issue. After conducting a field visit, the Rapporteur filed a report stating rights violation of the tribals.
The Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi, submitted before the NHRC that the villagers of Rengapali had filed a civil suit No.271/2010 in the Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Bhawanipatna, on the ground that due to establishment of an aluminium project at lanjigarh, their lives have become miserable and they are suffering from different types of diseases. In order to meet the grievances of the villagers, a meeting was held on July 15, 2011, in which displacement and rehabilitation of the villagers was approved.
Meanwhile, the Government of Odisha has given advance possession of five plots No.263, 264, 274, 326 and 337 under Khata No.49 of village Kotdwar to the firm. The total land of 2.15 acre was leased out by Idco in favour of VAl, lanjigarh. The Civil Court, Senior Division on January 19, 2012 dismissed the contention of the villagers and villagers were temporarily restrained from entering into the land and also not to create any obstruction in the construction of red mud pond over the land.
lanjigarh OIC was directed to provide force to help the company and implement the order of the court.
However, the villagers on January 21, 2012 obstructed the construction work at the worksite and violated the orders issued u/s 144 CrPC. All sorts of negotiations and persuasions failed. The members of the irate mob started pelting stones and attempted to set on fire the valuable machineries. The mob started lawless activities and they assaulted the police party by means of lathi and other traditional weapons.
The Magistrate ordered arrest of the accused persons. Consequently, 48 accused were arrested and a case was registered against them. However, an adamant Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi justified the action taken by the police.