BHUBANESWAR: The NHRC on Wednesday asked the state government to submit a detailed report in connection with the brutal torture of two dalit men over illegal cattle smuggling suspicion in Ganjam district.
Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, the apex human rights panel issued notices to the chief secretary and the director general of police directing them to submit report on the action taken in this matter within two weeks.
On June 26, the two SC persons were beaten up, forced to eat grass and drink drain water by some people belonging to other communities, on suspicion of illegal cattle smuggling in Ganjam district. Their mobile phones were snatched and their heads forcibly tonsured.
The Commission observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. “The report is expected to include the action taken against the perpetrators and compensation, if any, provided to the victims,” the order stated. The incident led to nation-wide outrage after its video went viral on social media. Police have arrested nine persons so far.