The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has directed the State Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within six weeks about action taken and relief, if any, given to kin of the deceased and all 437 injured due to police lathicharge at Khatuahata village under the Tumusinga police station in Dhenkanal district on December 27, 2016.
Earlier, Debashisha Hota on behalf of the Odisha landless Citizen Forum had alleged before the commission that police lathicharged about 2,000 demonstrators, who were protesting against the denial of land Pattas, on December 27, 2016. Over 400 people sustained injuries and one person died in the incident. The allegation raises serious issue of violation of human rights of the victims.
The commission taking suo-motu cognizance of the matter has issued the notice to the Chief Secretary, said Hota.
Hota had requested the commission to intervene, investigate the incident of serious human rights violation and direct the State Government to give Rs1 lakh compensation for each of the 437 Injured and Rs 20 lakh to Jini Khatua, wife of the deceased Parikh Khatua and to terminate Kamakhyanagar Sub-Collector and former Tehsildar Kalpataru Behera , SDPO Seikh Abdul Karim and IIC Pravat Kumar Tripathy for misuse of power. Hota was also arrested while moving towards Kamakhyanagar along with 1,500 supporters to lead a democratic rally in support of the landless. Then, his supporters came to Khatuahata by walking more than 20 km on road. The administration at the behest of local MlA ordered lathicharge, alleged Hota.