Police torture to Indian Journalist, Peoples watch approach NHRC

By Akhand in Bhubaneswar

Case of Police torture and illegal arrest to an Indian Journalist
made a new turn today when a human rights group approach
Indian National Human rights commission(NHRC) and alleges
serious human right violation.

Peoples watch, a national level organization working for
protection of civil rights of the citizen, approach NHRC and
State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) for intervention in
this case and request the authority to take necessary action
against the law violators.

This petition describes how the police had misbehave and
beaten the Journalist in a local market and dragged to the
police vehicle during the arrest. Forty one years old Biswambar
Baliarsingh, editor of a weekly newspaper “Ghurnibatya” has
continuously writing about the common man’s problem and
police atrocity. So Orissa police has arbitrary and intentionally
arrested the Journalist, said Manoj Jena, coordinator of
peoples watch,  who recently headed a fact finding team and
met the arrested journalist in the Bhubaneswar Jarpada Jail.

The particular allegation before NHRC, was made against
Doleswar Nayak, the Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of
Balipatana Police station,  who on 16th August,09 evening
came with four constables to near by Adalabad Market when
the Journalist was busy for marketing. The ASI pushed to the
journalist into police vehicle without informing the cause of
arrest and used slang and unparliamentarily languages and
beaten ruthlessly. Even the police didn’t allow him to inform
his family members about this arrest. In police custody neither
he was served any dinner nor allowed to urinate outside. The
plight didn’t end there. On Very next day when he was
forwarded to a local court, the Bhubaneswar police also
misbehaved him inside the courtroom, the arrested journalist
told the fact finding team, informed Mr. Jena.

Arrested Journalist further narrates the incident before the fact
finding team. He met the Branch Manager of local Rajas
Nilachal Gramya Bank of Balipatana on 25th July, 09 and
requested for a loan. Then after three days when Mr.
Baliarsingh visited the bank, he noticed that a local farmer had
a serious argue with the branch manager over a loan issue. He
intervened and solves the matter. After waiting for more than
three hours, when he tried to talk of his problems, suddenly the
manager ordered the watchman to push out the people along
with Mr. Baliarsingh. He also tried to convince the manager
that he was not an intruder rather an invitee by him.

In first week of august, the Bank officer  came with some goons
and threatened to kill if he further argues with him. At that
time some villagers were also present. When Mr. Baliarsingh
asked the manager why he was accompanied the goons, they
rebuked in slang languages. At the intervention of the villagers
the mater was solved there.

In the meantime the Journalist came to knew that the manager
had filed a FIR against him under Balipatana Police station.
The Journalist also filed a FIR against the manager before
commissioner of Bhubaneswar police through registered post.
But no action is being taken. On the other hand police has
arrested Mr. Baliarsing without any investigation, alleges
Manoj.
Peoples watch also demands before Orissa Government to take
necessary action against the guily officer.