NHRC seeks ATR from Odisha on 3 tribal women’s electrocution death
NHRC seeks ATR from Odisha on 3 tribal women’s electrocution death
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Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Odisha government for an action taken report (ATR) in connection with the electrocution death of three women from a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in Keonjhar district last month.
Based on a petition submitted by rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the Commission issued an order to the Energy Department's chief secretary. The Commission requested the ATR within six weeks.
When three Juanga tribe women ventured inside a forest near their Tangiri Juangsahi village in the Telkoi area to feed their goats on October 22, they came into touch with live electric wires. The three were killed on the spot. According to the petition, the live wires were dangling dangerously in the air and the victims were oblivious to the death trap.
According to the petitioner, who blamed the Energy Department for the disaster, three human lives may have been saved if the Electricity Department had performed sufficient maintenance work to restore the drooping line to an adequate height.
The petition sought the rehabilitation of the deceased PVTG Juang families, fair and impartial inquiry into the incident, stringent action against the department and adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased women.
The Commission further ordered that copy of the complaint be transmitted to the Principal Secretary of Energy department of Odisha online to ensure the necessary action in time.
