Archive · 6 Oct 2026
NHRC Investigates Alleged Assault of Dalit Sarpanch in Odisha
A team from India’s National Human Rights Commission has started looking into a complaint from Chameli Ojha.
She is a village council leader in Odisha.
Ojha says police assaulted her after she asked about unpaid bills for local development work.
The alleged incident happened on June 11.
The investigators spoke with police officers, government officials, Ojha and villagers.
They plan to talk to more witnesses and doctors.
They will also review official papers and available video.
Police say three separate complaints were registered about the incident.
The investigation will examine the different accounts.
A three-member National Human Rights Commission team began investigating the alleged assault in Kendrapara district on Tuesday.
Sarpanch Chameli Ojha alleges police abused and assaulted her after taking her from a block development officer’s office on June 11.
Ojha says the dispute followed her demand for overdue payments for development work and allegations of obstruction and irregularities.
Investigators recorded statements from police, block officials, Ojha and local villagers, and plan to examine records and video footage.
The district police chief reported three FIRs related to the incident, describing them as cross-cases; Ojha was also booked on several charges.
- Who
- The National Human Rights Commission team is investigating a complaint by Tikhiri sarpanch Chameli Ojha.
- What
- The team is probing Ojha’s allegation that police assaulted her, and examining related complaints and official accounts.
- When
- The inquiry began on Tuesday, October 6; Ojha says the alleged assault occurred on June 11.
- Where
- Kendrapara district, Odisha, including Mahakalapada police station and Tikhiri.
- Why
- Ojha alleges the assault followed her demand for pending development-work payments and her claims of irregularities and obstruction.
Ojha’s allegations
Police and administrative accounts
What happened to Ojha
Ojha’s allegations
Ojha alleges police abused and assaulted her after taking her from the BDO’s office.
Police and administrative accounts
The police and administrative versions are to be scrutinised by the NHRC team; the SP described three related FIRs as cross-cases.
Cause of the dispute
Ojha’s allegations
Ojha says she was seeking overdue payments for development work and had raised concerns about officials obstructing projects and irregularities.
Police and administrative accounts
Ojha was booked in a criminal case registered on the BDO’s complaint, including charges of attempt to murder, causing hurt and obstructing a public servant.
- Investigating body
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- Team size
- Three members
- Team members
- Deputy Superintendent of Police Isam Singh, Gugan Ram and Shashi Bala Sharma
- Complainant
- Chameli Ojha, sarpanch of Tikhiri gram panchayat
- Alleged incident date
- June 11
- Inquiry duration
- Four days
- Related police cases
- The Kendrapara SP reported three FIRs, described as cross-cases.