Indian
Express: BHUBANESWAR: Monday, 16 February 2015.
Even as the
Government is facing heat over increasing attacks on whistleblowers, the Orissa
Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has intervened in the alleged murder of RTI
activist Ganesh Chandra Panda of Berhampur in December last year.
Acting on
three petitions filed by rights activists Akhand, Akkisa and Biswaranjan Panda,
Commission Chairperson Justice BK Mishra has asked Ganjam SP to file a status
report in the case within a month.
According to
case records, Panda (52) was allegedly murdered on December 29 morning. He had
gone on a morning walk when he was attacked by miscreants from behind. His body
was later found lying in a pool of blood on NH-16 nearby.
The
petitioners submitted that Panda had been using RTI to expose corruption in
Government as well as public works by contractors in different developmental
programmes being undertaken in his panchayat. He had obtained incriminating
information on misappropriation of public money in works like road construction
in his area. As a result, he was eliminated by people who were going to be
affected by his expose, they stated.
One of the
petitioners Akhand said Panda had sought information under RTI on MNREGA and
post-Phailin reconstruction works in Rangeilunda block of the district and
brought to the fore serious corruption in the execution. His whistleblowing led
to suspension of a junior engineer and several works had to be stalled.
“The murder
is directly linked to the exposes which was hurting many people. This is the
first killing of a whistleblower in Odisha, yet there has not been any
significant police action in the case,” Akhand alleged.
The
petitioners have demanded compensation for the family of Panda and instructions
to police to nab the culprits.
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