NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA ii. Pursuant to the Commission’s directions, the Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh reported that on the basis of preliminary departmental enquiry, 3 officers were found responsible for dereliction of duty including General Manager, Transport and Water Fleet, Divisional Manager Vijayawada and Assistant Manager; they were suspended and 4 other persons working on outsourcing basis were removed. Cr. Case FIR No. 604/17 under Sections 304(ii) IPC was registered on 12.11.2017 at Police Station Ibrahimpatnam, Police Station Vijayawada against 10 accused persons. Chargesheet has also been filed in the Court. It has been mentioned that the Government will take sufficient steps to streamline the boat operations. iii. Accordingly, the Commission observed that despite issuance of notice and reminder, no reply to show cause notice had been submitted by the Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh which means that the Chief Secretary has nothing to submit in the matter. Therefore, the Commission recommended the Government of Andhra Pradesh to make payment of monetary compensation of Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakhs Only) to the NoK of each deceased person and Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) each to the persons who fell into the river. The Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh has been asked to file the compliance report along with the proof of payment within 6 weeks. 25. Illegal arrest and detention of Smt. Bharati Pradhan with her one year old daughter by the Forest range Officer, Sundergarh Forest Range, Odisha (Case No. 1909/18/14/2017) i. In the present case the Commission received a complaint from Shri Sushil Kumar Meher regarding illegal arrest and detention of Smt. Bharati Pradhan with her one year old daughter. The Commission took cognizance of the case and called for a report in the matter. In response, a report was submitted by the Special Secretary, Forest & Environment Department, Government of Odisha in which it was stated that the matter was enquired into by the District Forest Officer (DFO), Sundergarh Division. But his enquiry report does not reveal any violation of human rights of the victim woman and the child. Smt. Bharati Pradhan was neither arrested nor kept in lock-up with male accused persons as alleged by the complainant. She was apprehended from the spot with the help of lady forest guards. Shri Sillip Kumar Digal, Ex-Range Officer, Sundergarh has not done anything illegal for which action is warranted against him. He has done his duty sincerely and in good faith. ii. The Commission perused and considered the report as well as other papers placed on records, and directed the Director General of Police, Odisha to get an enquiry conducted into the allegations made in the complaint and the comments of the complainant by an independent agency like Crime Branch of Crime Investigation Department (CBCID). In response, it was reported by the Superintendent of Police, CBCID that an enquiry in the matter was made by the DSP, CBCID, Cuttack. It was established in his enquiry that Shri Dillip Kumar Digal, the then Forest range Officer, Sundergarh Forest Range had illegally ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 77