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The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Friday directed the Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range), Balasore to submit a report in connection with the chaining of a journalist to a hospital bed terming the incident a gross violation of human rights at the hands of police.
Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the rights body asked the IGP to submit a report within 15 days addressing the facts reported in the media, more particularly why the victim was put under fetters.
The chief district medical and public health officer (CDM & PHO), Balasore has been asked to submit a report on the matter by the next date of the hearing scheduled for April 26, 2022.
The rights body said news regarding the assault on Lokanath Dalei and putting his leg under fetters by Nilgiri police has drawn its attention.
"The news items depict that the Nilgiri police in the district of Balasore allegedly assaulted the journalist who works for a vernacular daily and TV channel and chained him to the bed while he was undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital," the commission said in the order.
Dalei reportedly alleged that the police carried a grudge on him for exposing corruption issues.
"After going through the content of the news items published in different newspapers on the same issue as discussed above, the Commission cannot lose sight of it as the same involves issues relating to gross violation of human rights of Dalei at the hands of the police," the order stated.
"The photograph showing Dalei chained to the bed has gone viral which speaks volumes about the violation of human rights," it added.
"While taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the Commission directs the Inspector General of Police, Eastern Range, Balasore to submit a report in the matter addressing the facts reported in the news items, more particularly, justifying the reason for putting the victim under fetters in the hospital bed within 15 days from the date of the receipt of this order positively," the order undersigned by OHRC chairperson BK Patel said.
