The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Collector and the SP of Keonjhar district over the administration’s failure to protect basic human rights of 24 Dalit children who were forcibly converted into Christianity.
Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy had moved the NHRC seeking its intervention to expose the truth.
In October 2015, at least 24 Dalit children in the age group of 6-12 were forcibly converted by a couple, who run a church in a hut, at the railway siding in Keonjhar.
Though the locals had brought this to the notice of police against the couple, Sadhu Balmuchu (38) and Mary (34) of Banitangar village under the Daitari police station, yet they were yet to be arrested. Some of the children were reportedly suffering from pulmonary disease.
The locals had also alleged that the couple was instigating villagers to convert into Christianity.
The facts and circumstances of the case clearly indicate that human rights of the SC poor children have been violated severely, alleged Tripathy on basis of media reports.
He requested the NHRC to direct the State Government to take legal action against the wrongdoers, pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victims along with free and proper medical care and other basic needs.