Activists betean up mercilessly During COVID Lockdown

Activists mercilessly beaten up and implicated with false Case during COVID-19 Lockdown by BJD Goons and Police in Odisha – A Report 

 Introduction

While declaring Corona Lockdown in the country in March,20, the Central Government announced a number of Packages/ COVID Assistance for three months ( April to June) to strengthen food security of the  poor and distressed people under Pradhan Mantri Garibi Kalyan Yojana. Under this  scheme, each  NFSA card holder  is entitled  to get 3 kg dal  for  three months  free of cost  and  quantity of 5 kg rice  was allotted per  head per  month free of cost  which is in addition to  normal  rice  distributed to all beneficiaries  under NFSA ( National Food Security Act).  Besides that all pension holders (Old age pension, widow pension and disable pension) will get an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 1000.00 each.   This announcement was followed by immediate release of fund and food-grains to all states including Odisha for distribution among the beneficiaries. The Central Govt. also released   kerosene in advance for distribution among the beneficiaries at subsidised price. 

In view  of  unprecedented  delay  in distribution of  food grains, non-distribution and hoarding  of rice  to  the beneficiaries, denial of  rice  to Ration Card  holders and demand  of huge price  per litre  of Kerosene by dealers ( Rs. 20.00 to Rs. 55.00 per litre of kerosene against Govt. fixed price), Social Activists made  on-line  and social media campaign  about  these schemes and entitlements  and    took up the  issue  to fight out  corruption and ensure  proper  distribution of  food-grains and kerosene. Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan  took a lead  role  by organizing  Social Activists  and RTI Activists  to fight  against  corruption  and irregularities  in distribution of  food grain. Plethora of Memorandum was submitted to the BDOs and Collectors seeking an inquiry into hoarding of Dal and exorbitant price demanded by dealers. FIR was also filed by the beneficiaries along the Activists in different police stations demanding inquiry  against  the dealers and Marketing Inspectors.   Mass media made wide coverage of the news of the fight of the activists against  irregularities and corruption.

Being aggrieved  due  to huge expose  of corruption and irregularities  in PDS,  the BJD goons  unleashed  reign of terror in different  districts  by  beating up RTI Activists mercilessly  and filling false FIR  against  them in  various  police stations.  When the RTI Activists  filed FIR  against them , the police did not register  their  case  rather registered  counter-FIR  filed by the  Goons  and  started  immediate  inquiry  against  the Activists. 

The Saga of Struggle of RTI Activists and Social Activists during COVID 19 lockdown is as follows.

1.Manoranjan Jena, RTI Activist, Derabishi Block of Kendrapara district

After  declaration of COVID lockdown in Odisha, Sri  Manoranjan Jena, RTI Activist, aged 38 S/o- Ramachandra Jena, Vill- Palliraghunath Pur, PS-Nikerai, Dist-Kendrapara, odisha    was  involved in mass  sensitization programme  being associated with administration  for  educating  the  people  about  negative  impact  of  Corona virus  on human life. He  along  with his  friends  were  sensitizing  the  people  about  the  packages  declared  by Chief Minister  and their entitlements under various schemes.  During  his campaign, he came across  adulteration of  rice ( Mixing  sand and stone  with rice) by some people politically associated with   Ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD)   and supplying  this adulterated rice  for  distribution to the  people under PDS. He  along  with the  villagers  of Nahanga Gram Panchayat   made  a complaint  to  the  district administration  following  which  the  Assistant Civil Supply Officer  of Derabisi block had visited  the  Gram Panchayat  on 6.4.20  at 5 pm for  inquiry  into their complaint.  While  inquiry  was  going on  at Ration shop  of the dealer by the ASCO , a gang of  anti-socials led by Sudhansu Jena  gheraoed    Manoranjan Jena  and mercilessly beaten up  using slang language in the  presence  of ASCO and other Govt. staff.   He lost sense  on the spot and his head  was  found bleeding. The villagers immediately   carried him to   Indipur Health Centre. In the same day, at 8.30 PM, he filed an FIR in Nikerai police station.  The police registered the FIR bearing Case No. 38 dated 6.4.20. But the police neither conducted any inquiry nor took any steps to arrest the culprits. As the hooligans belong to the same village, Manoranjan’s family has been terrorized. Manoranjan’s  family feel insecure to live in the village. The accused had also threatened to kill him.  A case has been filed in NHRC, New Delhi in order to give justice to Manoranjan Jena. ( His  Contact No- 9777472990).
  

2. Bhuban Chand Hati, RTI Activist, Itamati, Nayagarh District

 On  7.4.20, while Sri Bhuban Chand Hati, RTI Activist was  sitting on his verandah,  a group of anti-socials instigated by Sarapanch of Biruda GP of Nayagarh block assaulted him using slang language, beaten up mercilessly  and took away  his mobile  threatening  him of dire consequence, unless he refrains himself  from  making  any  complaints  of corruption relating to PDS and filling RTI against Sarapanch. Bhuban was admitted in hospital and underwent treatment. He filed FIR in Itamati Police station on same day. But the police did not register FIR for three days. After a long persuasion by RTI Activists, the Inspector-in-Charge, Itamati police station finally   registered the FIR having Case No. 42/20 dt. 7.4.20 and handed over the copy on 11.4.20.  But the police neither conducted any inquiry and nor arrested the criminals. Rather these Criminals of Biju Janata Dal  had filed  a counter-FIR  against  Bhuban in same Itamati police station. The police  registered  the  case  and  granted him bail. As  the  criminals  are scot free  in the Gram Panchayat,   they  are  threatening  more  to Bhuban  and terrorizing  his  family.  He has also received threats call from these criminals.  As the criminals belong to the same village,  his family live in the state of insecurity.   The accused had also threatened to kill him.   A  Complaint  case  has been filed in National Human Rights Commission. ( M- 9778142743.

3. Sarbeswar Behura, RTI Activist,  Dharmashala block of Jajpur district

In view of large scale-corruption and irregularities in distribution of food grains  to the beneficiaries, denial of  ration to some families and collection of higher price per litre of kerosene  from the Ration Card holders in  Dharmashala Block, Sarbeswar Behura  took up this issue and made a thorough survey to identify  the beneficiaries who have been denied ration under NFSA. On 6.4.20., he filed a PIL case No. WPC 11667/20  in Odisha High Court drawing attention of the  court about  denial of ration to eligible households,  rampant  Fake Ration Card  in Dharmashala block, loot of rice by Dealers  and Govt. officials  and prayed  for seeking  direction for the inquiry into it and supply of ration to all bonafide ration card holders  under PDS. Acting on the Writ petition, the hon’ble High Court issued  notice  to  State Govt. , Collector, Jajpur  and DO, Dharmashala  to  make their respective submissions . Being aggrieved  by  this case , the dealers  backed by BJD leaders  hatched conspiracy  and filed a false FIR dt. 19.5.20 in  Dharmashala Police station in order to harass Sarbeswar.   On 26.5.20, sarbeswar  Behura  along with   a team of  Social  Activists  submitted a memorandum  to BDO, Dharmashala  seeking  an inquiry into  higher  price demanded by  Dealers   per litre of kerosene  and non-distribution of Dal. (M- 9437459949).

4. Sanjay Sahu, Banki, Cuttack district

On 1.6.20, Sanjay Sahu, RTI Activist along with few  Labourers   was  holding  protest Dharana in front  of lock office, Banki  in protest against  rampant use of machine in NREGA work which deprives  hundreds of people from getting employment  in the village during COVID Lockdown. They  organized  this protest  in unique way by   beating  Thali  and enchanting slogans  before Block office by  demanding  for restriction of  rampant use  of  machine  in NREGA work, putting display board at worksite,  providing immediate work to the laourers  and maintaining transparency  in implementation of NREGS work etc. They submitted  a memorandum to  BDO, Banki and requested him to ensure  employment  to the poor laourers, withdraw machines from worksite and take action against  the officers involved  in misappropriation of fund y making forged Muster Roll. Day after,  around 20 hooligans and anti-socials of BJD party  forcibly entered  into sanjay’s house , abused him with slang language  and threatened him  of dire consequence , if he  continues  to oppose  corruption in NREGA work.  They also thrashed  him and created ruckus  in front of his  home  for few hours  to terrorise  the family. On 3.6.20. Sanjay  Sahu  filed an FIR  in Baideswar police station under Banki block  demanding  inquiry  and  quick action against  the  people  involved  in attacking him. But  the police is yet  to take  any action against them.M- 9337343390

5. Dusmant Acharya , Raj Kanika Block of Kendrapara district

Dusmant Acharya is a young Social Activist  and running a web channel “ Janata Zindabad”. He regularly  covered  news  about  corruption, irregularities  in implementation of development programme at  village level and  fought  to ensure  entitlement  of the  poor  under food security and social security programme. On 3.5.20., during COVID Lockdown, the  villagers  of Deulatara Gram Panchayat  had  come  to block office of Rajkanika  to file  complaint  about  huge irregularities  in COVID assistance like distribution of rice  and kerosene  by dealer Purusottam Das,   excess  price Rs. 30.00 demanded by dealer against  Got. fixed price Rs.15.00, less quantity of rice  given to beneficiaries  against  their fixed entitlements etc.   Dusmant carried this news and also visited to their village to collect information from the villagers about PDS irregularities. This news was put in his web media “ Janata Zindabad” which exposed  details of  PDS loot  engineered  by local dealer Purusottam Das. On 6.5.20., when Dusmant  was on his  way  to return to his  village at 8 am,  the Dealer  and his  hired  goons  stopped  him at Namatara , hackled him, took away  his camera  and eaten up mercilessly. They kidnapped him to their village and locked him. However , after  complaint  filed  by the villagers, the police rescued  him. He filed FIR in Rajkanika Police station at 1.30 pm on same day.  Though one month passed,  the police has not taken  any action  on his FIR ( Registration No. 96 /6.5.2020). M- 9439083515

6. Sapan Swain, RTI Activist, Gop, Puri district

Sapan Swain , RTI Activist  of Gop block of Puri district  uses  to file RTI Applications  to different  offices  to expose corruption and irregularities  in Govt. programme. He had filed RTI Application  to the PIO, office  of BDO, Gop block  about  distribution of PDS  in Gadabhingura GP  and  also  filed  complaint  in the  block office  about  huge  irregularities  in distribution of  rice and kerosene. On 13.5.20, Sapan  had gone  to  Gram Panchayat  office  to appear  before inquiry  conducted  by Marketing Inspector  about his  complaint. On his return from Gram Panchayat office, Ranjit Nayak, husband of Sarapanch  and  his associates  halted  Sapan  and abused him  with slang language. Then  they  started  beating  him with  lathi and  threatened  him to withdraw  complaint  filed against  them.   Having heard this incident, the family members reached  on the spot and rescued  him.  The family members found his head bleeding and his leg  broken .  He was  immediately  carried  to  Balisahi PS  and  then Puri Sadar  Hospital  for  treatment.  On 14.5.20 at 9.30 pm  , Khokan Swain , his brother  filed  an FIR  in Puri Sadar Police station for  inquiry and  legal action against  the accused. Though  20 days  passed, the  police  has not  taken  any steps  except  registering  the case ( FIR No. 123/20). M- 7978384277.