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‘Violations pertaining to project-hit a big challenge’

BHUBANESWAR: At a time when complaints of police harassments are being reported from different parts of Orissa, Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) feels that the human rights body should have non- police officials to investigate into such matters.

Justice D.P. Mohapatra, the first chairperson of SHRC who will be retiring from service on August 3, said: “We have been receiving complaints from people that investigations by officials from the police department into police excesses are far from satisfactory.”

Ever since the SHRC was founded in the State, it had received maximum cases pertaining to police harassment, Mr. Justice Mohapatra said, adding that the number of such cases could be some 60 per cent of the total complaints received during the last four years.

At present, the SHRC is being assisted by an investigation wing headed by an official of the rank of Inspector- General of Police. There are also a deputy Superintendent of Police, four Inspectors and a few constables to assist the inquiry.

The outgoing chairperson said a band of dedicated personnel having technical knowledge should be provided to the body.

“We need at least three to four rapporteurs to investigate into different matters. They should be general people having vast experience in administration and law,” Mr. Justice Mohapatra said.

He said: “The human rights body was set up without an assessment of the situation. If we have to work with such deficiencies, it will not serve the purpose.”

Identifying human rights violations pertaining to displacement caused by industrial projects as the next big challenge, the SHRC Chairman said the government should have started the process in a planned way.

Mr. Justice Mohapatra admitted that in most cases the government did not submit the action taken report on their direction.

“This SHRC is only a recommending body. It can bring out a problem or atrocity in a proper perspective. But, the onus is on the government to act upon its recommendations,” he said.

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