Monday, January 23, 2017

Intimidation of arrest and threats to RTI Activist by SP, Rourkela, Odisha

Intimidation of arrest and threats to livelihood of  RTI Activist by Superintendent of Police, Rourkela, Odisha



Though  the  country  has got independence  since 70 years, the  colonial practice  of  governing  the people  and colonial mindset  of bureaucracy still continues  in  odisha. Their behavior is getting more autocratic, undemocratic, inhuman and ruthless towards the common people under Nabin Patnaik Govt.  day by day.  The  common  people  are  seen abused, humiliated and  threatened  by  Odisha  bureaucracy  in their office  chamber. The  grievances  of the people are neither  addressed  nor duly  attended  by  the  Collectors and SPs  across the  state.  I have  come across plethora of  complaints  filed  against  bureaucrats  in NHRC, OHRC  seeking  enquiry  and justice.

I present herewith another case of humiliation and intimidation shown to an RTI Activist by Superintendent of Police, Rourkela in his office chamber.

Sri Chakrant Jena is an ex-service man who retired from army after 16 years of meritorious service.  Besides  doing some work  for livelihood, he is actively  involved  in social activities  and rendering  voluntary services  to the  poor  and disadvantaged  people  in Rourkela  and  Sundargarh district. He  has also  been  associated  with Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan  as RTI Activist  since last five years  and  carrying  out  sensitization programme on RTI  and filling RTI  to different  offices  in order  to help  the poor  people  in their  fight to get justice.

Sri  Chakrant  Jena  has  filed RTI Application dated 8.12.2016  to the PIO, office of IG, Western Range, Rourkela  seeking information about  details of license issued  to private  security agencies under Private  securities Regulation Act  and  details of procedure  followed  for issuing the license etc. which  was forwarded to PIO , office of  SP, Rourkela on 13.12.2016.   On denial  of information, he filed  first appeal dated 5.1.2017  to the First Appellate Authority-cum-SP, Rourkela  to  direct the PIO to provide  complete information.       The office of  First  Appellate  Authority  issued notice to him  on 12.1.17  evening  by hand  to attend the hearing  on 14.1.2017  at  10 am. Since S.P did not turn up till 1.15 AM on that day,  he left his office  explaining his inability to wait since he had other engagement. There after he dispatched a letter by post addressing S.P with a request to notice him  again, since Addl. S.P, Rourkela refused to acknowledge the note in order to  show proof of his  presence. On  16-01-2016, he  was served another notice by S.P –cum- Appellate Authority  through Chhend Police station, Rourkela during evening hours to attend a  rescheduled date of hearing on 18-01-2016 at 11AM. On 18-01-2016, he was escorted to S.P office on arrival in time. He made a request  to First Appellate Authority to allow one of my friends inside his chamber to  advocate on his  behalf. The S.P. refused permission rudely. He was visibly angry and the tone and tenor of his expression was demeaning and  unbecoming of an IPS officer. He said that the letter written to him to establish    presence of Sri Jena  on 14-01-2016 for hearing was beyond any courtesy and decorum supposed to be followed by a common man while communicating with S.P.  The SP  intimidated  Sri Jena  to implicate him in criminal case happening around my  residential colony and get him  arrested. Then the SP asked  HIM about his livelihood. Sri Jena said that he worked   as a supervisor/ sub-contractor under contractors, and helped   his  father in farming  work after retirement from army. Immediately  the SP  threatened him to  thwart his  business to put him  and his  family in distressing condition. Sri Jena  got  terribly  disturbed. The SP did not  hear my case and  asked him to get out  from the office.

It is unfortunate that the Police authorities, who are given the responsibility to  protect the rights citizens, are threatening to take away their rights to life and  livelihood. The very presence of a police officer which would have been a solace  for common men in entire police district is responsible for causing distress, insecurity and fear in public mind.

On 21.1.17, Sri Jena   has filed complaint petition to National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi demanding enquiry into it and legal action against SP, Rourkela.  He has also   filed  petition to Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha and Secretary, Ministry  of Home Affairs, Govt. of India  demanding arrest  of SP  and  seeking police   protection  due to  threats  given by SP,  Rourkela.

Sri  Jena  has  also requested  RTI  fraternity  and Human Rights  Activists  to help hm to get  justice.

Pradip Pradhan
RTI Activist
M-9937843482

Date-23.1.17 

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