Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 17: The twin city Commissionerate Police is yet to submit a report to the National Human Rights Commission on the alleged murder of a political activist here even two months after being directed by the rights panel to do so.
The commission took cognisance of the matter July 1, 2013 after a human rights activist alleged political activist Birupakshya Ranasingh was killed June 25, 2013 at the government residence of MLA Prashanta Nanda in Begunia.
Human rights activist Subash Mohapatra claimed Ranasingh’s body was sent to his village without any legal procedures being followed, and his body was also cremated immediately in order to prevent any investigation.
Mohapatra alleged Nanda’s role behind Ranasingh’s death.
“As per the Supreme Court’s guidelines, the registration of an FIR either on the basis of the information furnished by the informant under Section 154(1) or otherwise under Section 157(1) of the Code is obligatory. However, in this case no FIR was registered by the police,” Mohapatra stressed.
“Despite being a cognisable offence, no case has been registered against Prashanta. Police and Prashanta are hand-in-glove,” Mohapatra said.
Earlier, after no FIR was registered and no investigation was carried out in connection with the case, the NHRC sought a report from authorities.
Pursuant to the directions of the commission, Bhubaneswar DCP had submitted a report December 3, 2014 saying the investigating officer could not complete the inquiry due to unavailability of witnesses and also because of his engagements in various other law and order duties.
The DCP had also urged the commission to give the police a month’s time for filing the inquiry report in connection with the case.
The commission had then considered the DCP’s report and had directed the twin city police commissioner to submit a requisite report in the matter within six weeks, but no such report has been submitted by the Commissionerate Police so far.
