Farmer leaders return after meeting NHRC

Farmer leaders return after meeting NHRC
Dhenkanal(visakeo)-

Krushak Sangharsh Samiti (KSS) convener Debasish Hota has returned to Dhenkanal with 25 other associates after deposing before the National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi on police atrocities during his agitation regarding farmers’ problems.

Hota told The Pioneer that he, alongwith other activists, had apprised the NHRC regarding the police atrocities on 12 Schedule Castes (SCs) ladies merely on allegations by officials of the GMR Power Plant at Kamalanga, assault by Dhenkanal SP on the KSS cashier Ranjan Lenka, and its block president Sudhansu Nayak at Gondia police station on May 28 and torture by police on him and his associates when they were on a fasting agitation before the Dhenkanal Collectorate for fulfillment of some genuine demands of the farmers.

Besides, Hota said, he had apprised the NHRC of the continuing jumbo menace in the district and how the forest officials were behaving like mute spectators when the rural farmers were living in panic spending sleepless nights.

Hota met the NHRC chairperson and other highly placed members in a delegation that included, among others, district Secretary Niranjan Sahu, treasurer Ranjan Lenka, Gondia block president Sudhanshu Nayak, Kamakshanagar block president Pramod Sethy and Bhuban block worker Pravakar Poi.

Hota broke his eight-day fast after the Collector assured him to fulfill the 20 demands within June 20.