The convenor of Puri-based Sri Jagannath Sanskruti Parishad, Odisha, Anil Biswal has filed a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging illegal arrest of Naga Baba Vaishnab Puri on March 18.
The commission acknowledged the complaint on Thursday. According to the complaint, the Odisha police and the State Government have blatantly violated human rights of the Naga Sadhu.
Samal alleged that the Sadhu staying in Puri had repeatedly opposed the Government’s decision to demolish a heritage monastery on the plea of beautification of the Jagannath Temple and had also protested against the Government’s attempt to stop the Jagannath Rath Yatra.
For these issues, Samal alleged, the Sadhu was harassed for months and even was threatened by police to leave Puri. Later on March 14, he was attacked by police for alleged Covid protocol violation and arrested.After 20 days of arrest, he was shifted to the Choudwar jail and is now under treatment as a psychiatric patient in the SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack. Samal further stated that there is a conspiracy to make the Sadhu mentally unstable.