Two sisters assaulted by cops in Odisha capital to get Rs 50k compensation

Bhubaneswar:  The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the state Government to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 each to two sisters of Behera Sahi here who were allegedly assaulted by police personnel last year.

Hearing a petition filed by the two victims and two rights activists, the Commission on Wednesday sought an action taken report from the Home Department Principal Secretary and DGP regarding criminal prosecution against the guilty cops within two months.

“No doubt the state Government has initiated departmental and criminal proceedings against the delinquent public servants . However, for the violation of human rights and the sufferings the victims underwent, the commission considers compensation should be awarded to them,” the OHRC said in it order.

Sources said the Nayapalli police had detained the two girls over a civil dispute on May  6, 2018. During their detention, the two sisters were allegedly assaulted by police personnel. The duo was later arrested and produced before a Magistrate the next day. After being released on an interim bail, the sisters had posted pictures of the police excesses on social media which went viral later.

However, the police had refuted the allegation saying that they had gone to Behera Sahi after receiving a complaint about a clash between two families over a propriety dispute. The police faced stiff resistance from the family against whom the complaint was lodged and even two women constables were allegedly assaulted by the two sisters while they were pacifying the agitated families.