Nabarangpur: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Nabarangpur Superintendent of Police to submit an investigation report within eight weeks over allegations that a nine-member Dalit family was forcibly evicted from its home in Badadamapala village.
The complaint alleges that Fagunu Harijan, 70, a daily-wage labourer, and his family were assaulted and driven out of their house under the jurisdiction of Kodinga police station. It also accuses the police of failing to register a case or take effective action following a complaint about the incident.
According to the complaint, Harijan owns a house on plot No. 206 under khata No. 124 in Damapala mouza, which he allegedly received under a government housing scheme three years ago. His family comprises nine members, including an elderly woman, a son with a disability, his daughter-in-law and four minor grandchildren. The complaint states that, following the death of Harijan’s brother, several people allegedly attacked the family, forced them out of the house, locked the premises and threw their belongings outside.
The family has reportedly been living under a tree in front of a neighbour’s house since the eviction, depending on others for food and shelter. Lawyer and human rights activist Anup Kumar Patra, who filed the complaint June 20, alleged that the family received no effective assistance despite approaching Kodinga police in writing. According to the complaint, no case was registered, nor were steps taken to restore the family’s access to the house or ensure its safety.
A police officer reportedly characterised the matter as a land dispute. The complaint was presented before the NHRC October 19 and registered a case (1086/18/10/26). After examining it, the commission forwarded a scanned copy to the Nabarangpur Superintendent of Police for necessary action and sought an investigation report within eight weeks.