OHRC seeks report on 4 home guards kneeling down in public

The Odisha Human Rights Commission today sought reports from DG, Home Guards and SP of Mayurbhanj district after inquiring into the alleged incident in which four home guards at Baripada were made to kneel down.
The OHRC has sought submission of the reports within four weeks.
The order was issued by OHRC acting chairperson Justice B K Mishra while taking cognizance of four separate petitions filed before the commission.
Four home guards, including a woman, were made to kneel down before the office of the Mayurbhanj district SP all because they allegedly violated the dress code.
The four were found not in their uniforms while on Rath Jatra duty at Baripada town on June 25.

The incident came to light yesterday after a photograph showing the four kneeling down with their hands raised went viral on social media. The incident caused public outrage and considerable discontent among home guards across the state.

Reserve Inspector Ashok Tripathy, who had ordered the home guards to kneel down for two minutes as punishment for violating the dress code, has defended his action and said he tried to instill discipline among the Home Guards.
The petitioners stated that asking the home guards to kneel down in full public view was illegal, inhuman and unconstitutional and violated the right to life and dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Mayurbhanj SP R Prakash today recorded the statements of the four home guards.