Arrest of SUCI workers under OHRC scanner

The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the Railway IG to enquire and submit a report within a month about an allegation against the inspector in-charge of Cuttack GRP of illegally arresting six SUCI activists, including a woman, and torturing them in custody.
Based on a petition filed by the SUCI, OHRC chief Justice (Retd) B K Mishra issued the notice to the senior police officer.
A SUCI release today claimed that the GRP in-charge J R Samantray had illegally arrested its six activists on May 8 and forwarded them to court.
"While the party activists were engaged in public subscription collection in specified party boxes, the IIC booked them on charges of extortion," said Khageswar Sethy, a local office-bearer of SUCI.

The party workers were also illegally detained in the lockup and were subjected to inhuman treatment, Sethy alleged.
Although the SUCI leaders had brought the IIC's action to the notice of the Railway SP and the director general of police no action was taken against him following which the party was left with no alternative but to approach the OHRC, the release said.