Assault on differently-abled: NHRC issues show-cause to Railways for compensation

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Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show-cause notice to the chairman of Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, asking why compensation should not be paid to a differently-abled man who was assaulted by Railway Protection Force (RPF) jawans at Balasore railway station January 8, 2017.
While hearing a petition filed by Pradipta Kumar Nayak, a human rights activist, recently the Commission asked the chairman to compensate the victim with `50,000 as the government is responsible for the deeds of its employees. According to case details, some RPF personnel assaulted the man on the charge that he had stolen a passenger’s cell phone. They kicked him in the abdomen, slapped and also threw away his walking sticks. The issue made headlines all over the country after a video clip of the assault went viral on social media. The personnel were seen beating and kicking the man who was crying for help from the onlookers at the station.
GS Routray, an RPF constable, and Chittaranjan, an ASI, seen kicking the man, were placed under suspension till the departmental disciplinary committee submitted its enquiry report on the matter. A case has also been registered against Routray with the Government Railway Police station in Balasore.
The ASC and Secretary (crime), Railway Board has informed the Commission that heavy penalty has been imposed on erring personnel September 12, 2017 and final action will be taken after receipt of the enquiry report from the Superintendent of Police, RPF, Cuttack. The Commission directed the Railway Board and the SP of Balasore district to present the status report on the issue within four weeks.