The alleged caste remarks by Jagatsinghpur Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Satyapriya Mishra to a woman cop and subsequent police inaction on the complaint of the victim has drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Acting on a petition filed by Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain, the commission has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to collect the requisite reports from the concerned authorities in the case and submit a report to it properly examining the same within four weeks.
Notably, on February 1, Paradip police station SI Sabita Majhi had brought a minor looter to produce before Jagatsinghpur CJM Satyapriya Mishra. Mishra allegedly abused her and also made remarks on her caste and forced her to sign on the bail bond of one accused. “later, victim Sabita Majhi lodged a complaint at the Jagatsinghpur police station. But the inaction shown by the police amounts violation of her human rights,” said the petitioner in her prayer.
She urged the rights panel to take criminal/disciplinary action against the concerned police officer for failure in taking lawful action on the complaint of the woman cop. She also prayed the commission to arrest the accused and provide protection to the victim.