NHRC demands police's report in 2012 lathicharge incident

National Human Rights Commission has asked the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police commissioner to file a status report within six weeks detailing the action it had taken over all the FIRs filed in connection with the police lathicharge on Congress workers during a party rally in Bhubaneswar in September 2012.
In its order passed last week, the NHRC had directed to issue reminder to the twin city police commissioner to submit the requisite report within six weeks positively.
"Failing which, the NHRC shall be constrained to issue coercive process under section 13 of Human Rights Act of 1993," the NHRC order said.
The NHRC had earlier issued two notices to the police commissioner and several reminders were sent. But the police commissioner failed to respond to the notices and reminders of the NHRC following which the ultimatum was issued last week.

Advocate Nishikant Mishra of Orissa High Court had approached the NHRC stating that the state police acting at the "behest" of their political bosses of ruling BJD had "brutally assaulted" the Congress workers on September 6, 2012 in Bhubaneswar without any provocation.
The complaint had also alleged that at least hundred Congress workers were injured in the police action. Even some media men gathered at the rally were not spared, Mishra had maintained in his complaint.
Seeking the Commission's intervention, the human rights activist had urged the former to order for a departmental enquiry and action against the erring policemen who attacked the political workers.