Bhubaneswar: Taking suo motu cognisance on an incident wherein a nude youth was found chained at his house in Narasinghpur, the Orissa Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Tuesday sought action taken reports within four weeks from the secretary of social security and empowerment of persons with disability department and Cuttack district collector.
‘‘The principal secretary to the Government, social security & empowerment of persons with disability department, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack collector to look into the matter urgently and submit their respective action taken reports to the Commission within four weeks,’’ OHRC acting chairperson Justice B K Mishra said in his order.
The incident came to the fore last week when the Commission was on its way to attend a programme on Human Rights at Narasinghpur College. He was shocked to see a nude youth being chained on his verandah, the order sheet mentioned adding the commission called Narasinghpur tehsildar Seshadev Mishra and ordered him to take immediately steps to free the youth from the fetters and send him to SCB Medical College and Hospital for his treatment.
According to newspapers, the person concerned Anil Mohapatra having lost his balance of mind for 20 years is found to be roaming on the street everyday. Though such a scene is seen by people, nobody has ever bothered to give a look at Anil, let alone taking any step to alleviate his suffering, Justice Mishra said in his remarks.
As the matter caught the attention of Commission, Athgarh sub-collector Harisha Chandra Nayak took immediate action for Anil’s treatment. Since the youth’s father Iswar Mohapatra is a poor man, he could not take up the treatment of his son. This has led Anil to lead a life of a primitive man, the commission observed.
While taking up the matter suo motu, the commission observed that Anil’s case is a clear violation of his human rights and suggested immediate action to provide him necessary treatment in the psychiatrics department of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
The commission also said arrangements should be made to keep him in an appropriate place for enabling him to live a life with dignity.
Press Trust of India
