Indian Tribal News Service
New Delhi
With two back-to-back incidents of security lapses leading to an attack on National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) member Ananta Nayak while on tour to Keonjhar district, the Constitutional body has written to the Odisha government seeking a thorough inquiry into the matter.
In a letter to Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, the NCST said it has taken a “very serious” note of the lapses in providing adequate security to Nayak, who holds a constitutional post besides the “casual attitude” of the district administration. A similar letter has been sent to the Odisha Director General of Police Sunil Kumar Bansal and Additional Director General, CB-CID, Arun Bothra.
The NCST said it has received a report on “disturbance and physical attack” on Nayak during his tour to Keonjhar in Odisha from July 28 to August 2.
The first incident took place near Vaghamunda Chowk, Harichandanpur Block, on July 29 where around 50 people “stopped the vehicle of the NCST member, shouted slogans against him and used filthy language”, it said.
The incident was immediately reported to the CB-CID, Keonjhar SP and Odisha DGP for immediate action and they were asked to tighten the security of the NCST member. However, Nayak was attacked again at Khanji Pani under Telkoi Block on August 1 (Monday).
“It has been reported that a mob of 500-600 people gathered at the spot and obstructed the movement of the member. The mob also obstructed the public hearing to redress grievances of scheduled tribes,” the NCST letter stated.
The Commission apprehended the incidents were pre-planned and the response of district authorities shows that they are not serious about ensuring security to the members of the Commission.
“Prima-facie, it appears that the district administration and police have a hostile attitude towards the commission, which is a constitutional body having a mandate for safeguarding the interests of Scheduled Tribes,” it pointed out.
Considering the serious and repeated security lapses causing threat to the life of Nayak, the Commission directed the Odisha Home Secretary and the DGP to get the matter inquired thoroughly by an officer not below the rank of IG and to furnish the report within a period of three days.
