A three-member National Human Rights Commission team is expected to visit Odisha’s Kendrapara district on October 5 to examine allegations concerning the treatment of an elected woman sarpanch during a June 11 confrontation. Ommcom News and OdishaBytes reported the planned visit on October 2, citing a communication to the district collector and police superintendent.
The reports say the team will seek accounts from officials, police, witnesses, investigators and medical personnel connected with the incident at the Mahakalapada block office. This is a reported forthcoming inquiry, not a visit already completed or a finding that rights were violated.
The case has competing accounts. The sarpanch alleged assault and mistreatment. In June, police denied the allegation of custodial assault and said officers were injured after official work was disrupted. Those earlier police statements were reported by The News Insight on June 12.
There was also a separate police investigation into her complaint: The New Indian Express reported on June 16 that a man had been arrested on an allegation of assault at the block office. Arrest does not establish guilt. The new October reports do not provide final outcomes of the competing cases or a fresh district-administration response.