KORAPUT: The dharna staged by the members of the district unit of Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha (ORAS) over suspension of clerks entered the 10th day on Thursday.
While more than 15 district units of the associations have supported the agitation by the Koraput unit, the members have urged Chief Secretary AP Padhi to intervene in the matter, Association president P K Nayak said.
Following the pen down strike by the clerical staff of the district, administrative works have been severely affected. Since the Collector is on leave, the Sangha members said they will continue their strike in a peaceful manner. They have demanded immediate withdrawal of suspension orders.
Meanwhile, the human rights protection unit of Koraput has lodged an FIR against the Collector for barring citizens from their basic rights.
Several human rights activists of the district, led by Trinath Dolai, went to the office of the Collector to submit a memorandum. But they failed to submit the same due to the agitation and absence of the Collector.
Koraput SDPO B Kuldip assured the activists to look into the matter.
The Association has threatened State-wide agitation if the administration fails to lift suspension orders with immediate effect. Nayak alleged that while junior clerk of the collectorate, Krushna Chandra Pradhan, has been suspended without any fault of his, no specific reason has been mentioned in the official file over his suspension.
Collector V Jaykumar had suspended Krushna for his alleged involvement in giving permission for landing of helicopter of a Union Minister at Borrigumma on February 13 during panchayat election campaigning. On February 23, the Association staged dharna against the suspension following which, 10 more clerks were put under suspension on charges of dereliction of duty.