Cuttack: Expressing concern over 17 students of Anantapalli Project High School in Angul’s Athmallik falling ill after consuming yellow oleander seeds on the school premises December last year, the Orissa Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Wednesday directed the Angul collector and district education officer (DEO) to respond within four weeks.
The directive came in response to a petition filed by rights activist Ranjit Sutar who took note of a report published in these columns December 15, 2017.
Attributing the incident to the negligence of the school authorities, the petitioner had urged the rights body to intervene in the issue and deliver justice to the victims.
One of the girl students of the school had plucked some oleander seeds during the lunch hours December 14, 2017. At least 17 girls of the school who ate the seeds were taken ill and were rushed to Athmallik sub-divisional hospital. Later, they were referred to the district headquarters hospital. Three of the critically ill girls were rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, the petition read.
It was alleged that even as the students took the seeds on the school premises, the school authorities had no hint about the incident. This had sparked a widespread resentment among the parents.
Probe ordered into custodial death
The OHRC Wednesday expressed concern over mysterious death of a Maoist in police custody and directed the DIG (south western range) to probe the matter. Acting on a petition filed by rights activists Biswapriya Kanungo and Akhand, the commission set four weeks deadline for the DIG to probe the circumstances leading to the death of Sama Kabasi and submit a report. The body of Sama, who was among 12 arrested by Malkangiri district police December 27, was found in the district police barrack two days later. SP Jagmohan Mina in a press conference had claimed that Sama had committed suicide.
PNN
