NHRC sends reminder notice to Odisha on man's death

The apex rights panel has issued a reminder notice to Odisha on the death of a man who allegedly escaped from police custody more than two years ago and was found dead in the state, a petitioner said Wednesday.

Acting on a complaint filed by Right to Information activist Akhand, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Tuesday issued the reminder and directed Chief Secretary J.K. Mohapatra to positively submit his response within four weeks, or it would assume the police had nothing to state.

Ajay Kumar Biswal was said to have escaped from the Ishwarpur police outpost in Balasore district Nov 23, 2011 and his dead body was found lying in a nearby paddy field the next day.

"No compensation was paid to the deceased's kin. I had brought this matter to the notice of the commission," Akhand told IANS.

Describing the case as a violation of human rights, the commission issued notice to the chief secretary Oct 4, 2013 asking him to show cause why monetary relief should not be provided to the deceased's kin.

Later, the district superintendent of police had sent a report to the commission on the matter.

The commission in its reminder said the officer's report only states the case of the police, which has already been considered by the commission.

"Show cause notice is required to be answered by the chief secretary," the commission said.