New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Director General of Police(DGP) for an Action Taken Report on the farm loan fraud case in Odisha.

About 50 farmers on February 4,2019 approached the Samal Barrage police to file an FIR against fraudsters who have fraudulently taken agriculture loan in the name of framers from various cooperative banks. According to the petition before the NHRC, the Inspector-in-Charge(IIC) refused to entertain the complaint. Not only that the IIC allegedly threatened the kill the complainants.

According to farmers of village Biru under Samal police station in Angul district three persons Meena Behera, Ghanashyam Baidya and Krushna Pradhan have defrauded them by withdrawing agriculture loan money from the banks in their name.

Sangita Swain, secretary Human Rights Watch, has filed a petition in the NHRC seeking disciplinary and criminal actions against the police. She has also prayed that the accused persons be arrested and steps be taken for recovery of the amount defrauded by them. Swain also demanded compensation for the victim farmers for being mentally harassed.

The NHRC taking into consideration the petition 8 weeks, taking cognizance of the petition (NHRC Case No. 1134/18/16/2019) directed the DGP to file the Action Taken Report withing eight weeks time.