BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has issued a notice to the Chief Security Commissioner (CSC) of East Coast Railway (ECoR) seeking a report on the alleged assault on journalists and passengers by Railway Protection Officer (RPF) Inspector Sanjay Kumar Swain on Monday.
In its order, the OHRC has observed that while the journalist and camera crew of an Odia TV channel were covering an agitation staged by passengers, Swain and along with other RPF personnel pounced on them and arrested them unlawfully.
Instead of resolving the passengers’ strike in a peaceful manner, the Inspector on duty snatched the video camera and mobile phones of the scribes and subjected them to physical torture, the order stated.
“Taking cognisance of the allegations of misbehaviour and torture by the Inspector, RPF outpost, Bhubaneswar, Sanjay Swain, the Commission has directed the CSC of ECoR to enquire into the matter and furnish a report within a period of three weeks,” Acting Chairperson, OHRC, Justice BK Mishra said.
On Monday, a group of passengers blocked Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express to protest the unscheduled 12-hour delay in arrival of trains which they were supposed to board.
As they took to the tracks, the RPF personnel, led by Swain, rounded up the agitators and two journalists and detained them at the outpost.
They were reportedly tortured by Swain in the lock-up.