Jajpur: The Orissa Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Monday asked the Inspector General (IG) of Police to probe an incident wherein two innocent tribals were allegedly lodged in jail after being branded Maoists.
Earlier in the day, the family members of victims – Rabi Murmu of Balipada village and Abhimanyu Mohant of Khakhari village under Kaliapani police limits in this district – met the authorities of the rights panel and sought justice.
According to the complaint, Rabi had been working as a labour supervisor in Kamarda Chromite Mines owned by BC Mohanty and Sons. Being a member of a labour union, he used to raise voice against the exploitation of labourers by consultancy firms as well as the mines owner.
Not happy with his activities, the mines authorities had not enrolled his name in the payment register. Moreover, they asked Rabi to arrange clearance certificate from Kaliapani police station to get his name registered to get his dues. This had put Rabi under severe mental stress, his wife Rebati said in her complaint to the OHRC.
She further alleged IIC Yuvraj Singh abused Rabi and other workers when they got assembled at the main gate of Kamarda mines June 12 to submit a memorandum to the authorities protesting the unlawful eviction of people of nearby Mashasahi village.
The police threatened them to obey the order of the local MLA failing which they would be put behind the bar as Maoists, it was learnt. Police forcibly picked up Rabi the same day and didn’t allow his family members to meet him, Revati said.
Similarly, police arrested Abhimanyu of Kharkhari village and Ramesh Majhi of Keonjhar district who came to his in-laws’ house and produced them in a court. Police have registered case under several sections of the Arms Act dubbing them as ultras, alleged Abhimanyu’s wife Padmabati.
According to Padmabati, Abhimanyu was working as a loading Khatadar in a mines owned by Orissa Mining Corporation. In the last panchayat elections, he cast his vote following his conscience which had angered the supporters of a particular political party.
He was also opposing the illegal eviction of tribal people. The mining authorities stopped providing him work under political pressure. Finally, he was branded a Maoist and arrested, Padmavati said. On receiving the complaints, OHRC chairman Birakishore Mishra asked the IG to submit a report on it within three weeks. PNN
