The Odisha Human Right Commission (OHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a journalist being shackled to a hospital bed for over four hours after being assaulted at a police station in Baleshwar district in eastern Odisha.
The inhuman treatment of Loknath Dalei, the Nilagiri correspondent of the Odia daily, Sambad, at the Baleshwar District Headquarter Hospital followed his arrest over a ‘minor altercation’ with a home guard after a collision involving their bikes. On April 4, the journalist’s bike collided with the bike of Niranjan Rana, a home guard with the Nilagiri police station. An annoyed Mr. Dalei snatched Mr. Rana’s helmet, saying he would return it only after the damage to his bike was paid for. However, he then returned Mr. Rana’s helmet and left the place.
“The home guard had perhaps felt offended and lodged a complaint against me. I then went to police station to clear the air, “ said Mr Dalei. “ However, when I was about to explain the incident, Nilagiri inspector in charge Ms. Draupadi Das kicked me and other officers joined in beating me. I fell unconscious. Subsequently, I was admitted to the Nilagiri hospital and then referred to the Baleshwar district hospital.”
And while he was under treatment for the assault, Mr. Dalei was kept shackled to the hospital bed like a hardened criminal from 7 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday. On Friday, Mr Dalei was admitted to the intensive care unit after he complained of chest pain, his wife Ms Nirupama said.
The OHRC on Friday observed that shackling Mr. Dalei was a gross violation of his human rights by the police. The Commission directed Inspector General of Police, Eastern Range, Balasore to submit a report within 15 days justifying the reason for putting the victim (a journalist) in fetters while he was in hospital.
The Chief District Medical Officer of Baleshwar was also called upon to submit his report in the matter at the Commission’s next hearing on April 26.
“The matter is unfortunate. A working journalist should not be treated like this. A Havildar has been suspended. We have asked a Deputy Superintendent of Police to inquire into the circumstances under which the journalist was arrested and shackled in hospital,” said Narasingha Bhol, in-charge Inspector General of Police of Eastern Range.
Nilagiri IIC Ms. Das and a sub-inspector of police were transferred to Baleshwar district police headquarters. Mr. Bhol said if any clue about police high handedness emerged, action would be taken against erring police officials.
