NHRC seeks Report from Kerala DGP over Odia Labourer’s Death

Bhubaneswar, April 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought report from Director General of Police of Kerala and District magistrate of Kandhamal over the mysterious death of a migrant laborer in last December. 17-year-old Titas Digal of Tiangia village under Raikia police limits of Kandhamal died in Kerala under suspicious circumstances on 13 December 2014. But, the Kerala Police ignored the matter terming it as an accident.

Acting on the complaint of rights activist Akhand of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR), the NHRC has directed the two authorities to file a report in this matter within four weeks.

Tital was working at a Plywood Company at Pallipadi, Maonjar, (Close to Perumbbur) Under Ernakulam District.  The cops even refused to receive the FIR. No postmortem was done and dead body was not handed over to the family, said Akhand.

“My son has been killed by some youth of Gadengia of Raikia police station, who were working in Kerala at that time. They had a severe fight with Titas, which led to altercation and murder of my son,” alleged Uchhaba Digal, father of Titas.

Uchhaba lodged an FIR in local police station at Raikia on 23 December. But, no case has been registered in the matter. The cops have not even tried to get in touch with their counterparts in Kerala. The family members contacted the Superintendent of Police of Kandhamal, but in vain.

“It is very disturbing that minor boys and girls, who are being migrated to other states, are forced to work in hazardous condition. There is no record maintained by the Labour officer of Kandhamal District of Odisha. They are been trafficked by the middle man in false assurance of high salary”, alleged Akhand.

The petitioner has prayed to NHRC to order strong action against the culprits and provide adequate compensation to the victim’s family.