NHRC orders compensation to UTPs kin

BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the State Government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of Suresh Nahak, an undertrial prisoner (UTP), who died after attack in the Aska Sub-Jail last year.The rights panel held the jail authorities responsible for Nahak’s death and felt that the grant of interim relief to the kin of the deceased is justified. Nahak, 29, happened to be the only breadwinner of the family but was arrested for indulging in  criminal activities on August 24, 2010. The NHRC had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. While the matter was investigated by a judicial magistrate, the DIG of Prisons, Berhampur, too had conducted a probe and submitted a report.As per the case, Nahak was put in the Sub- Jail on February 16 the same year after being remanded in judicial custody by JMFC, Aska, for murder, dacoity, possession of illegal arms and other charges. He had been kept in Ward No. 6. The ward is barely 150 metres away from Ward No 3 where a group of hardcore criminals, owing allegiance to criminal Bikar Mallick, were put up. Mallick and Nahak were rivals.On the fateful day, the six members of Mallick’s gang rushed to Ward No 6 and started assaulting Nahak. The UTP was given feet and fist blows and the jail staff could not rescue him. He was rushed to MKCG Medical in Berhampur later but was pronounced brought dead.The investigation report of the DIG (Prisons) suggested that the Aska Sub-Jail staff had failed to take adequate security arrangements inside the jail which led to the incident. Besides, all the staff were also afraid of the hardcore criminals lodged in the prison. The jail perimeter did not have any illumination facility either.The NHRC, in its order, observed that the sequence of events leading to the incident showed that the attack was sudden and incidental.Human rights activist Prabir Das, who was providing legal aid to Nahak’s family, said the Commission had asked the Chief Secretary to send proof of payment of compensation in four weeks.