Balugaon: As many as 35 families of Mohanpur village under Banpur police limits in Khurda district were socially ostracised and fined for political reasons by the local village committee.
The victims brought the matter to the notice of the Banpur additional tehsildar. Fearing threat to their lives, the victims, in a written petition to the additional tehsildar, demanded security and justice.
The incident related to a tussle over the upcoming panchayat elections, sources said. Supporters of a particular political party forced the families to join the said party. They threatened them with dire consequences if they did not vote for the party. Later, they ostracised the 35 families after they objected to join the party, sources said.
They were barred from using village water, electricity and many other basic facilities. The party members assaulted the villagers and humiliated them in full public view if they tried to fetch drinking water from village tube wells, alleged the families. The victims had earlier brought the matter to the notice of the administration and Khurda district collector but were turned deaf ears.
Meanwhile, the torture inflicted on the victim families grew intolerable day to day, sources said. Gripped by fear, some of the families left the village and took shelter in their relatives’ houses, sources said.
The victims had earlier June 1 sat on a dharna before Banpur police station. The police had assured them of investigating the matter and providing justice to the victims, but in vain. The victims demanded immediate step in this regard and warned of a mass demonstration in their petition if their allegations are not heeded.
A copy of the written petition was forwarded in favour of Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik with copies to State Human Rights Commissioner, State Commission for Women, Khurda district collector and the SP. PNN
