Cuttack: Orissa high court has sought a ground-level report from senior police and local representatives on allegations of police excesses against tribal villagers during protests linked to a proposed road project in Rayagada district.A division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash passed the direction while hearing a PIL filed by Purushottam Hikaka and seven others, who were represented by advocate Anup Kumar Mohapatra. The April 7 order was made available online on Thursday.The petitioners alleged that police personnel raided homes in the early hours of March 10, arrested 21 villagers, including 10 women, and ransacked houses. They claimed several villagers were subsequently booked under UAPA and lodged in Bhawanipatna jail.The bench noted that the newspaper reports placed before it contained versions from both sides and that the circumstances surrounding the police action required examination.“We cannot overlook the seriousness of the allegations,” the bench said, while directing SP, Rayagada, a DSP and the sarpanches of Kantamal and Sagabari to conduct a joint spot verification and submit a report.The court directed the state to file an affidavit within three weeks. It also asked police to ensure that no violence occurs in the adjoining villages and directed the petitioners to ensure villagers do not take law into their own hands. The matter will come up next on Sept 2.The PIL alleged that police teams led by the IICs of Kashipur and Karlapat police stations forcibly entered houses by breaking down doors. It also alleged that a 19-year-old pregnant woman and three women accompanied by their infants were detained without being informed of the reasons and were humiliated.According to the text of the order, the villagers had been peacefully protesting against a govt road project, which they claimed affected their rights. They sought a judicial inquiry by a sitting or retired HC judge or, alternatively, an SIT under the court’s supervision.Compensation for the alleged victims and action against police personnel were also sought.The state, however, disputed the allegations. Appearing on behalf of the govt, Saswat Das submitted that police personnel had gone to the area to execute non-bailable warrants issued by competent courts. During the operation, he said, villagers resisted the police, resulting in injuries to 58 personnel.
