OHRC raps Puri SP for non-compliance

While the SP was given six weeks time to file a factual report by the Commission on October 1, 2012, the police failed to do so even after 12 weeks. The matter is coming up for adjudication again next week.

The case inter alia refers to one Manas Kumar Baliarsingh (35) of Kanas in Puri district, who was allegedly murdered by timber mafia for the former had exposed illegal felling of trees on government land spread along the nearby Chandapada-Balijatpur road.

Infuriated over Manas initiative, some locals with the help of timber mafias attacked his house on August 7, 2012. When this matter was brought to the notice of local police in Kanas, the mafia in retaliation once again attacked his house on September 12, 2012. This time, Manas sustained grievous injuries and later succumbed to his injuries in a Cuttack hospital same night.

Despite approaching the police, local administration and even giving a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who also happens to be home minister, Manas father and wife, are running from pillar to post for last five months, yet justice eludes them, their counsel Nishikanta Mishra said.

Mishra on behalf of the victims had approached the OHRC, which on October 1, 2012 had called for a factual report from Puri SP within six weeks.