A Citizens's Commission on Kandhamal Violence in Orissa

From: citizencommission Orissa [snip]
Date: 20 Jun 2008 20:35
Subject: CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON KANDHAMAL VIOLENCE

PUBLIC NOTICE ON KANDHAMAL VIOLENCE

This is to notify that a Citizen Committee on Communal Harmony in Orissa formed by several citizens from various walks of life as well as some voluntary organizations representing several civil societies in different parts of Orissa and the said organization has formed a Citizen Commission to give its recommendations for bringing out harmony among the people of Kandhamal .The said Commission consist of the following:

1. Justice Choudhury P.K.Mishra, (Former Judge, Orissa High Court)
Chairperson.
2. Shushri Chandrika Mohapatra, (Renowned Social Worker, Orissa) Member.
3. Shri Sarat Pujari, (Eminent Oriya Actor) Member.
4. Shri Prafulla Kar, (Renowned Musician and Columnist) Member.
5. Shri Satakodi Hota (Eminent Oriya Literature and Editor, Samaya
daily) Member.
6. Dr.Dhiren K.Ray (Eminent Social scientist) Member
7. Advocate Shri Ajit Das, Member Secretary.

To achieve the said end the commission has decided to look into the
following matters:

a) What was the sequence of events and circumstances leading to the
incidents?
b) What was the role, conduct and responsibility of various organizations, group of individuals or persons, if any, in influencing, precipitating or
escalating the incident?
c) What was the role played by the Administration and police before, during and after the riot to prevent the riots and to tackle the situations?
d) Was relief measures undertaken by the Government and any other
organization or individuals adequate and proper?
e) Any other matter connected with or incidental there to that needs to be required for achieving the aim.

The commission has also decided to gather required information by way of written verified statements and also take oral evidence of all individuals, representatives of different organizations to analyse the cause of disturbances in Kandhamal, apart from analyzing all other printed materials and media report etc. It has been decided by the Commission to hold special hearing session as per the following schedule:

1) Dated 1st and 2nd July,2008 - Red Cross Bhavan, Bhubaneswar from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m and again from 2 p.m to 4 p.m
2) Dated 4th July,2008 - Brahamigaon College, Brahamanigaon, Daringibadi block, Kandhamal from 11 a.m to 2p.m
3) Dated 5th July, 2008 - Baliguda, Kandhamal from 11a.m to 2 p.m.

To facilitate the work of the Commission it has been decided to issue this Public Notice and send individual notices requesting for submission of any written statement and various aspects mentioning the above so as to reach the office of the Commission in the address given below by 27th June 2008.

This is also to notify that the verified Statement /Affidavit if authenticated will be taken as evidence and oral evidence that will be recorded will be authenticated by the witness and /or Audio and Video assistance will be taken which will be examined by the Members of the Commission to answer the references given to them.

On behalf of the Citizen Commission on Kandhmal

Adv. Ajit Das,
Member Secretary
N/474, Jaydev Vihar
Bhubaneswar -15
Phone: 0674 - 2553094
Email: citizencommission (at) gmail.com