The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Chief Secretary and DGP to investigate the illegal mining activities in Ganjam district by the State Crime Branch (CB) and also to take legal and departmental action against the guilty Government officials including police personnel involved in promoting such illegal mining activities.
The NHRC passed the order taking cognisance of a petition filed by civil society organisation Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain. In her petition, Swain had alleged that on May 12, 2017 in the Phatakhali hill in village Nachunbadi under the Kabisuryanagar police station in Ganjam district, three labourers Babu Sahu, Bhasi Naik and Sushanta Sahu died and two others, Tunguru Naik and Shivram Naik were seriously injured due to illegal blasting. She had further alleged that hardcore criminals and mafia gangs are carrying out illegal blasting in Bhatakhali hill under Kabisuryanagar PS using illegal explosives. The commission taking cognizance of the petition sough a report from the Ganjam Superintendent of Police. During inquiry by police it was revealed that illegal mining being carried out by the deceased and injured persons.
The Odisha State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary also submitted a an action taken report, stating that illegal stone blasting and lifting was being carried out by some miscreants of the locality which led to accidental explosion and causality.