Attack on RTI activists in Odisha in 2021 : Some Cases
By Akhand
False and Fabricated Case against Convenor of OSAA and his associates:
Noted rights activist and anti-corruption crusader of the state and also the Member of Core Advisory Group of National Human Rights Commission in Right to Food, Sri Pradip Pradhan’s life is in severe threat as many false and fabricated case has been registered against him in revenge of his tireless work for ending corruption and justice for the people. He is the State convener of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA) which is a state level platform of RTI activists and HRDs. He was known for filing multiple RTI applications in connection with several irregularities in the State Government Departments. RTI inquiry filed by him and his team across the state, exposed many high level corruption cases in the state.
Recently at least two cases have been registered against him under Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police, Bhubneswar. One case his registered at Mahila thana (Women’s Police Station), Bhubaneswar (FIR No. 106 , dated 1.09.2021) on a complaint of a Women sports person alleging that Mr. Pradhan has tarnished her image as the he shared a post in social media that Govt. of Odisha is spending cores of money on her and she should play well in the interest of nation. There is nothing legally wrong in the post he shared. But police registered a case against two journalists and Mr. Pradhan who shared the post.
Another case is also registered against Mr. Pradhan in same police station dated 05.09.2021 bearing FIR No. 107, on a complaint of another women from a village in Balipatana area. Her allegations are also baseless and not based on any facts.
Police also registered some cases against the associates of Mr. Pradhan to end the activism in the state. All the activists in the state were staging peaceful protest and dharana in front of SP and Collectors' office and demands the proper investigation of the case by an independent agency.
Police has not inquired the matter properly and intentionally registered case against HRDs who exposed many irregularities and corruption in state. Mr Pradhan and his defenders associates has been targeted for their brave works in media by exposing the real face of corrupted officials of the state.
Bombing on Activist :
A Right to Information (RTI) activist Sri Sarbeswar Behura from village Jaraka of Dharmasala Police station, suffered serious injuries after criminals hurled bombs at him on 27 March 2021 at about 9.10 PM near Imam Nagar under Dharmasala Police station in Jajpur District. He was admitted to Dharmasala CHC for treatment after the attack, but later shifted to SCB College and Hospital in Cuttack as his condition deteriorated. Driving the Car, Mr Behuria was returning home along with an associate in a car,when two men intercepted the vehicle, lobbed bombs and fled.
Sarbeswar Behura is an RTI activist based in Jajpur. He is the Jajpur district unit convener of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA).He was associated with OSAA since 2014. He was known for filing multiple RTI applications in connection with several irregularities in Jajpur district. RTI inquiry filed by Sarbeswar Behura had exposed many corruption related to Governments Welfare Shemes, Constructions of Roads, illegal mining at Dankari and Bichhakhandi hills, illegal crushers etc. He has moved Odisha High court and Odisha Lokayukta against these corruption cases. The wife of Mr Behura, Mrs. Rilu Behura has lodged a police complaint suspecting the hand of Dharmasala's BJD MLA Pranab Balabantaray behind the bomb attack and attempt to murder her husband as He exposed many corruption cases of the district. Two persons were arrested in this case. But activists groups of the state suspected that the Police is under the pressure of the ruling political lobby and vested interest groups are trying to tinker with the investigation, so as to hush up the truth about a well-conspired attack on RTI activist. Some antisocial elements of ruling party in Odisha had regularly threatening him to withdraw the corruption cases, otherwise face dire consequence.
Jailed for False Case:
Odisha Police have arrested RTI activist Satyanarayan Rao on 25th June 2021 in a false and fabricated case in Jharsuguda district. Satyanarayan had sought information from Jharsuguda Municipality under RTI Act which was not complied in time. Meanwhile, he was intimated to deposit an amount of one lakh and 72 thousand against the documents. After getting the intimation in this connection, Rao went to the Municipality office to ask about the particulars of the fees. But, the Executive Officer drew a complaint with Jharsuguda police. Acting on it, police arrested Satyanarayan and sent to Judicial custody. Police has not inquired the matter properly and intentionally arrested the HRD who exposed many irregularities and corruption in the district. He has been targeted for his brave works in media by exposing the real face of corrupted officials.
Jailed for Social media post:
Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police on 5th April 2021 evening about 7.30 PM have arrested noted RTI activist Srikanta Pakal for alleging sharing a post in a social media platform without proper inquiry. Srikant is Cuttack district unit convener of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA). He was known for filing multiple RTI applications in connection with several irregularities in Cuttack district and State Government Departments.
One Person had posted a message in social media platform i.e. face book about an IAS officer, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste (SC) community and Srikanta allegedly shared it. The said IAS officer filled a complaint at Capital Police Station and basing on that, Police lodged a case No. 193/2021 dated 23.03.2021 under Section 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of SC/ST(POA) Act and Section 67 IT act and arrested Srikant from Sahid Nagar area of Bhubaneswar on 5th April 2021 and kept him in the police custody whole night and forwarded him to court next day about 2 PM.
In the above case(i.e. 193/2021 in Capital Police Station), the complainant is the IAS officer, against whom Srikanta have filled a case before Lokayukta, Odisha alleging various corruptions and irregularities when the IAS officer was Management in-charge in Odisha State Cooperative Bank based on information received under RTI Act. The case was pending at Lokayukta. So it is suspected that this police case is a product of the result of the revenge.
Police has not inquired the matter properly and intentionally arrested the HRD who exposed many irregularities and corruption in state and against the complainant IAS officer in the particular case. He was jailed for his brave works against corruption.
Harrasment and threatening at Public office :
At least eight to ten peoples and some officials of Deputy Labour Commissioner, Nuapada and Cuttack confined RTI activist Jitendra Kumar Sahoo in a room and started abuse in filthy languages and threatened him to restrain from filling RTI application on 02.08.2021 as Jitendra files several RTI application to this office to expose corruption in various scheme of construction labourers. He is the Cuttack district unit Co-ordinator of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA) since 2015.
The incident happened between 11.50 and 12:00 hrs on 02.08.2021 when Jitendra reached at office of Deputy Labour Commissioner, Nuapada, Cuttack. He was forced to sit in a room and 8/10 people including some officials started abuse and threatened him not to come this office again, otherwise he will be killed. Jitendra has been targeted for his brave works in media by exposing the real face of corrupted officials especially officials of Deputy Labour Commissioner, Nuapada, Cuttack.
An FIR is lodged at Madhupatana Police Station under Bhubaneswar Commissionrate Police bearing case No. 171/2021. But no action is taken against the accused in the case. Even no investigation is started yet.
Interventions and Demands :
OSSA moved to National Human Rights Commission in every case of attack, threats on RTI activist. In some cases NHRC has sought report from the authorities. OSSA has urged appropriate higher authorities to intervene in the matter. OSSA demands that all human rights defenders/RTI activists in Odisha are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment in all circumstances. Government of Odisha should ensure that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by India is guaranteed.
(Akhand is a human rights defender and member of OSSA)
Email: akhand111@gmail.com