Cuttack: The NHRC has issued notices to Odisha DGP and Railway Board Chairman asking them to submit action-taken reports within four weeks on last month's loot and attack on passengers by dacoits at Malatipatpur between Sakhigopal and Delanga railway stations in the state.
Based on an application filed by advocate Nishikant Mishra of Orissa High Court, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued the notices on Wednesday. In his application, Mishra had alleged that due to absence of security personnel in trains at night the safety of passengers was compromised.
At least seven passengers were assaulted and their belongings looted by a group of armed dacoits when they were travelling on the Puri-Khurda Road passenger train on the night of January 3.
The dacoits had reportedly boarded the train at Puri station. No security personnel were present in the train during the time of the incident.
The injured passengers reported the matter to the police at Delanga station, but the police in turn refused to react saying the matter came under the jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police (GRP).