The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the State Government to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to a resident of Angul district, Markand Naik, for illegally confining him after his son eloped with a minor girl.
Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy brought the matter to the notice of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for appropriate legal action against the police and compensation to the innocent father. Naik was arrested by police and kept in fetters for allegedly abetting the kidnapping of a girl. Subsequently, the NHRC transferred the case to the OHRC for disposal.
The OHRC sought a report from the range DIG and Angul SP. The OHRC observed that Naik was picked up from his house at Amantapur village and subsequently, put in fetters for an alleged offence committed by his son Mithun, who had allegedly kidnapped a minor girl on September 6, 2015.
However, Naik was arrested on September 8 and kept in fetters outside the lock-up in Nalco police station of Angul. The police charged him with abetting the kidnapping of the minor girl and threatening her father of dire consequences.
The girl was rescued by police from Deogarh district on September 10, 2015.
Subsequently, the investigating officer of the case DK Swain and constable Koili Kishan were suspended for putting Naik in fetters and a departmental inquiry was initiated against the duo.