The Shastri Foundation, an NGO, moved the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Saturday seeking its intervention to ensure justice to Sanjay Kumar Das, who was harassed by the police a week ago for selling meal at Rs10 near a State Government Aahar counter at the Capital Hospital here. Shastri Foundation Odisha chairman Smruti Ranjan lenka petitioned the OHRC citing violation of Article 19 (1) of the Constitution.
lenka said Das, chief of the Aama Ghara Healthy Food, has been providing food near the Capital Hospital since 2012. However, one of his employees was on April 3 threatened by police for selling food in the hospital premises. Two days after the incident, police picked Das and beat him up asking him to close his shop. A complaint in this regard was registered with the Capital police, he added. The petitioner said the police threatened and thrashed the employees of Das’ catering organisation at the insistence of some unscrupulous elements. As the incident infringed upon the basic human rights of Das, the OHRC should take action against it, lenka demanded, adding that the agitation for justice would be intensified in coming days. While the Government is providing subsidised meal for the urban poor at Rs5 in five cities, Das’ venture has been giving rice and dalma at Rs10 at various locations in the capital city.