The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Rayagada Superintendent of Police (SP) seeking a report on the suicide of District Welfare Officer (DWO) Dhaneswar Prusty.
It has been alleged that Prusty committed suicide on February 17 due to severe mental stress due to frequent strictures by the then Rayagada Collector Sashi Bhusan Padhy, the PA, ITDA of the district. The commission acting on a petition filed by Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain directed the Rayagada SP to submit an action-taken report (ATR) on the issue within four weeks.
The petitioner urged the commission to initiate criminal/disciplinary action against the Collector and other concerned, besides requesting the apex human rights watchdog to ensure a compensation of Rs20 lakh to the kin of the deceased.