Cuttack: Taking up a petition filed by a RTI activist alleging murderous attacks on him and subsequent police inaction, Orissa High Court has sought a report from the state government.
RTI activist Akul Chandra Sahu, a native of Sanmundali in Barang police limits, in his petition appealed to the court to provide adequate protection to his family and stringent action against his attackers. Justice BK Nayak heard the petition and directed the state government to respond to the petition.
Sources said Sahu (37) is an RTI activist and has exposed many irregularities in various departments. The people exposed by Sahu have allegedly attacked him several times.
In one such incident some youths dragged him out of his house and tied him to a pole on the night of February 7, 2015. They assaulted him and forced him to kneel down before them and apologise. Although Sahu lodged a complaint with Barang police, he claimed the officials did not take any action against the accused persons and instead released them after issuing a warning.
The accused again barged into his house on the intervening night of March 26 and 27 this year and dragged him out of his house and tried to strangle him. They also took away his mobile phone.
Although the incident took place in the presence of a home guard, the police did not take any action, alleged Sahu.
He added that he was grievously injured and had to undergo treatment in Cuttack for several days. He has not returned to his home fearing threat to his life.
On the other hand, Sahu’s mother (84), who is suffering from old age related ailments, is leading a destitute life in the village. Sahu had also lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in this regard while activists of India Against Corruption had drawn the attention of the police commissioner, district collector, director general of police and submitted a memorandum, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, Sahu’s mother moved the Orissa Human Rights Commission and filed a case. Acting on the case, the rights body had directed the DCP to file a report in this regard. However, police are yet to take any action in this regard,
alleged Sahu.
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