Kendrapara: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Thursday issued notice to the Odisha Chief Secretary, DGP, the District Collector, and Superintendent of Police of Bolangir for submitting an Action Taken Report (ATR) within a week over the death of a minor Dalit boy. In a barbaric act, Gunanidhi Bag, a Scheduled Caste (SC) teen was beaten to death for taking a bath in a village pond June 17, 2023. The ghastly act occurred in Khaliapali village under Muribahal police station limits in Bolangir district. Acting on a representation filed before the apex SC panel by civil rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the notice has been issued seeking a reply within seven days. Tripathy alleged that the brutality was committed over caste prejudices.
He also informed the Commission of another painful issue in 2013 wherein the Sambalpur district Collector had to provide financial relief to a 40-year-old Dalit woman and her family. The woman and her family faced brutal atrocities by their fellow villagers at Jayaghanta village under Dhama police station limits in Sambalpur district, September 6, 2012. The families still live in lurch. Both the cases, the petitioner stated, are heinous in nature and need immediate intervention from the Commission.
The inaction, negligence, and failure of the officials including the police had posed a serious question of human rights, he said adding, it not only violates the provisions of the Constitution of India but also the PHR Act, 1993, and the POA (SC ST) Act. He requested the NCSC to direct the DGP, Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Odisha to investigate the case by CB-CID and take legal action against errant officials and culprits. Tripathy also requested the Commission to compensate and rehabilitate the victims with the assurance of the benefits under the social welfare schemes in both cases.
