Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the state Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Superintendent of Police of Mayurbhanj district to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) in connection with the alleged death of a tribal by the Forest officials. In addition, the court has sought the inquest, post-mortem examination report, and copy of the magisterial inquiry report.
The commission asked for the submission of the ATR and other reports within four weeks’ time while hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court Lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy. Tripathy in his complaint alleged that 40-year-old Jagannath Hembram, belonging to a Scheduled Tribe, of Burudi village in Mayurbhanj district was allegedly killed by Forest department personnel May 31, 2023. The victim had reportedly gone into the Simlipal sanctuary area to search for missing buffalo when he was allegedly shot dead by the Forest officials, suspecting him to be a poacher. The perpetrators reportedly fled from the spot, leaving the body behind, alleged Tripathy. The petitioner had approached the NHRC seeking an impartial investigation into the matter so that the bereaved family got justice.