OHRC orders relief to lady cop

The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Thursday awarded Rs 50,000 as financial relief to woman constable Pramila Padhi within four weeks. Padhi was brutally assaulted and traumatised by a mob during the Parivartan Rally of the Congress on September 6.

Disposing a petition filed by the Biju Mahila Janata Dal over the assault, OHRC chairperson RN Bahidar directed Principal Secretary to the Home Department to provide the monetary relief to the lady constable.

Padhi was caught in the melee during the rally which had turned violent. The incident was captured on video and pictures by the media leading to outrage across the country.

Following the assault, a petition was filed by the BJD women’s wing president Pramila Mallick on  September 7 who had sought compensation for the constable since she was allegedly assaulted by the Congress workers and her modesty was outraged while discharging duty.

OHRC Registrar CR Mohapatra said the Commission Chairperson has directed the Home Department to comply with the order within four weeks.

Incidentally, the State Commission for Women (SCW) which had probed the incident, had recommended that the constable be compensated by the State Government. Holding the Congress party responsible for the September 6 violence, the then chairperson of the commission Jyoti Panigrahy had recommended that the Government may provide compensation.

The panel also recommended departmental award for good service which, it said, would encourage other women to work efficiently.

The incident which hit headlines had also prompted the National Commission for Women (NCW) to take up an inquiry. Commission member Dr Charu Wali Khanna had  visited the State and met the victim. She had  suggested that the State Government should have directed a judicial probe as such a provision is statutory.