Friday, December 13, 2019

Memo to DG Police on Murder of Abhimanyu Death


To
Sri Abhaya, IPS                                                                                              Date- 12.12.19
Director General of Police
Govt. of Odisha
Cuttack

Sub- Seeking thorough, timely and effective investigation into gruesome murder of  Sri Abhimanyu Panda, RTI Activist of Baliguda of Kondhamal district.

Sir

We, the  following signatories i.e, RTI Activists and Human Rights Activists  working  under banner  of Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan ( a state-level forum spearheading campaign for effective implementation of RTI Act in Odisha)  bring  to    notice  of your office  the incidence  of cold-murdered murder  of our RTI Activist  friend Sri Abhimanyu  Panda  for  your  urgent intervention and necessary  direction.

That, on 10.12.19.,  when   observation  of  International Human Rights day  was  in full swing across the  state,  the media  reported   about cold-blooded murder  of  Abhimanyu Panda,  age 58, RTI Activist  at his residence Baliguda ( around 300 kms from Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha)   at  around  7.30  am  by two unidentified assailants. Immediately ,  a five-member team  of RTI Activists led by Pradip Pradhan, state  Convener along with Dr. Sibas Mohapatra, Sri Ziauddin, Jitendra Sahu  and Anjan  Rath  visited  his house  at Baliguda  and  met family members at  Bataguda, native  place, a 12 kms  distance  from Baliguda.

During interaction with  family members, his wife  Chhabirani Panda  who is eye-witness of the incident  narrated that “  at  around 7.30 am early morning a two  unknown persons came to their  residence  and asked  her  to meet  his  husband Abhimanyu Panda. Accordingly, she informed her husband and engaged herself in household works. After few  minutes  she  heard  about  heated  exchange  of  words  between his husband  and same  two persons and came out  from home  and found his husband’s body lying on the ground. She called family members and carried her husband  to Hospital where  doctored  declared  dead due to firing.”   On query  about  the  reasons and life threats, if any  to him, the  family member Santosh Padhi, his brother-in-law  appraised  the team   his work of RTI expose  about  mega scams  in  Sarangagada College , road construction  work  in Baliguda  under Executive Engineer, R&B, Phulbani, PDS  Scam in different blocks, huge irregularities  in management  of jagannath temple, threats  received by him  from  contractors, liquor mafia  and few  political  people  of ruling party.

Getting clue from statement  of family members about  his RTI work, the  team  inspected  in his  home details of files  containing  series of RTI Applications  submitted  to different  authorities and  complaints  filed  ( a) to District Superintendent  of Excise, Phulbani  against  proposal for opening  of off Liquor shop  in Ward No. 1 ( Khata No. 106/157, Plot No. 825/1112) resulted  in closing down  of liquor shop in Baliguda, ( b) Rs. 70 lakh scam in hostel construction work in  Sarangagada college ( allegation  against  Ashok Panda, Contractor), ( c) complaint  filed  to Executive Engineer, R& B, Phulbani on  huge irregularities in road  construction work  undertaken  by R.K.D. Construction Company , (d)  Action taken  by the  Endowment  Commission on  his complaint  against members of old Management Committee  of Jagannath Temple, Baliguda, subsequent  eviction of hew   shop owners  from shops  who had  illegally occupied shops  for  years together, ( e)  filling of  more than 50 RTI Applications to expose PDS Scam.  His  constant RTI Expose and follow up  activity  in form of filling  complaints  to appropriate  authorities  and  public interest litigation cases  in  High Court  has  posed  big threats  to business  of  powerful people  of that area , contractors  and  corrupt officials.

As a  Whistle-blower,  Abhimanyu  had made relentless  fight  against  corruption and irregularities  in Govt. work  and  protected  public property. The  coteries  of corrupt people  affected  by  his  constant RTI work    conspired  to finish  him  and succeeded at  last. His  death  is  a bog loss  to  RTI fraternity  in our  state.

As  we understand, the  police  is not  conducting investigation properly. Though two days  passed, the police  is yet  to  find out  the  culprits.  The incidence  took  place  just  a few  away  distance  from Baliguda police  station.  The unholy alliance  of  local police  with  political people and  contractors, liquor mafia  of ruling  class  can not be   ruled  out .

So,  we  feel  it  proper  to draw attention of  your  good office and   seek  direction for   inquiry  by a special team outside  of the  district  under your  direction supervision.  Stringent  action should be  taken  against  the  culprits  and the people  behind  murder  of  Abhimanyu. We  also  request  you  to  please issue  direction  to all  police  stations and  intelligence wing  to ensure  safety  of RTI Activists fighting  against  corruption and take prompt  action on FIR lodged  by RTI activists .  

Thanking  you
Yours  sincerely
Pradip Pradhan
State Convener
 M-9937843482

No comments:

Post a Comment