• NHRC seeks energy secretary’s reply on electrocution deaths

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the state energy secretary and superintendent of police (Mayurbhanj) seeking an action taken report within four weeks on the death of a man and his elder son at Machapada under Betanoti block in the district on July 3. They were electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire.

    The commission issued the notice on Sunday acting on a petition filed by rights activist Sangita Swain on July 3.

    Swain mentioned in her petition that the incident happened when an overhead electric wire snapped from the 11-KV line and fell on the field of Baisnab Patra, 45. “Baishnab along with his two sons, Mohan, 18, and Bhawani, 15, was busy plucking bitter gourd from their farmland when the livewire fell on them,” she added.

    The trio sustained serious injuries. Baishnab and Mohan were admitted to the Baisinga hospital, but later the doctors declared them dead. Bhawani was shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar after his condition deteriorated.

    After the incident, the villagers had put up a road blockade demanding compensation for the kin of the deceased

    The petitioner said the duo lost their lives due to hanging 11-KV electric wire. She urged the rights body to take criminal action against the public authorities responsible for the incident.

    She also requested the commission to direct the state government to take departmental action against the guilty. “As the family members lost their breadwinner and a grown-up son, the government should provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family and rupees five lakh towards treatment of Bhawani,” she said. Paul Postma Authentic Jersey

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