Odisha largely free from caste, religion resonance in electoral politics
Caste calculation, religious affiliation has never emerged as a tool to woo voters.
The alleged custodial death of a man detained by the Forest Department earlier last week in Cuttack district has come under the scrutiny of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the apex rights panel seeking Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and police authorities.
Fifty-nine-year-old Dhaneswar Behera, a resident of Satagochhia village, was picked up by the Forest Department officials of Athagarh area on 5 February on charge of poaching a tusker and removing its tusks. Allegedly beaten up black and blue in custody, Behera later succumbed to injuries.
The carcass of a bullet-ridden de-tusked male elephant had been retrieved from Hipinda Reserve forest under Badamba range on 31 January. Behera had been taken into custody by forest personnel as the principal suspect of the elephant poaching case.
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Meanwhile, police have arrested six Forest Department personnel including a Forest Ranger and two foresters of Athagarh division in connection with the custodial death.
Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy had drawn the attention of NHRC on the alleged custodial killing of the man.
The petitioner had urged the NHRC to direct the authorities to furnish inquest report, post mortem report (typed copy of PMR especially description of injuries must be provided), video cassette post mortem examination, site plan of scene of occurrence giving all the details , chemical and histopathology examination of viscera and final cause of death based on Forensic Science Laboratory report along with magisterial inquiry report.
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