The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an order to the Odisha Chief Secretary in the case pertaining to the death of a so-called Maoist activist, Gangadhar Krisani, who was killed in an alleged encounter with the BSF at village latiput side in Koraput district on October 29, 2013.
In a petition to the NHRC, complainant Prabhir Kumar Das had alleged that the deceased was an innocent villager and not a Maoist activist.
A magisterial inquiry was held in the case by the Koraput SDM and it was revealed that the deceased did not have any criminal history or connection with Maoists.
BSF officials stated that Maoists had opened fire on the BSF party. However, neither any BSF personnel sustained any injuries nor was any empty cartridge recovered from the place of incident. The enquiry officer has concluded that the version of the BSF personnel for the said incidence cannot be established conclusively. The reports made it clear that an innocent villager has lost his life by the negligent act of the BSF personnel, for which the State is vicariously liable.
Following this, the NHRC issued a show cause notice to the Chief Secretary why monetary relief of Rs 1 lakh should not be recommended to be paid to the kin of the deceased for violation of human rights.