Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has swiftly constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate the horrific incident of alleged “kangaroo court” torture inflicted upon two Dalit men in Dharakot Kharigumma village of Ganjam district. The move comes as shocking details emerge of the victims being paraded half-naked, assaulted, and forced to consume sewage water and grass.
The five-member committee, formed under the directive of State President Sri Bhakta Charan Das, is chaired by Sri Rama Chandra Kadam, the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Leader. Other members include Dr. Lalatendu Mohapatra (Vice President, OPCC), Sri Ramesh Jena (MLA), Sri Subarna Nayak (General Secretary), and Sri Tuleswar Nayak (Secretary).
The committee’s mandate is to visit the village, engage directly with the victims, and submit an immediate report to the PCC.
The alleged incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation, reportedly occurred when the two Dalit men were transporting cows for a dowry. They were stopped at Kharigumma village by a group of individuals who accused them of cattle rustling and demanded money. Upon their refusal, the victims were allegedly subjected to brutal beatings, stripped half-naked, and forced to walk on their backs for approximately two kilometers. Eyewitness accounts suggest they were also compelled to eat grass and drink dirty sewage water.
The victims managed to escape and have filed a complaint at the Dharakot police station, where one of them received medical attention for head and back injuries. Dharakot police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Congress party’s swift action in forming the fact-finding committee underscores the gravity of the incident and signals their intent to address the alleged atrocities against the Dalit community in the state.