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
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