Bargarh: In a landmark decision, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed a police officer to pay Rs 2.5 lakh compensation each to two persons who he had arrested on false charges of killing a minor boy.
The rights panel has asked the State Home department to collect the compensation amount from the officer within two months from the date of issuance of the order, informed human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo.
According to sources, the case pertains to a minor boy from Paikamal police limits in Bargarh district who had gone missing in 2016. The police officer, investigating the case, deemed the boy to be dead and arrested two persons on the basis of suspicion. The duo was later sent to jail. Surprisingly, the minor boy was found to be alive after he returned home two years later in 2018.
As questions were raised over the carelessness of police in investigating the case, human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo had moved the OHRC seeking justice for the arrestees.
(Edited By Devbrat Patnaik)