STATE OF ORISSA versus SIKHAR JENA AND ORS

1. Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of a Division Bench of the Orissa High Court directing acquittal of the respondents.

p. 845, margin G

2. Background facts, as projected by prosecution, in a nutshell, are as follows:

p. 846, margin A

The occurrence took place on 19.3.1984 between 9.30 AM and 10.00 AM. The FIR was drawn up by the Circle Inspector of Polic~. Paradeep, purportedly on his own information on 19.3:1984 at 11 .15 AM . and was formally registered at the Paradeep Police· station at 12.15 P.M. on 19.3.1984. The informant (The Circle lnspector)who has been examined as P.W. 49 is admittedly not a witness to the occurrence, but it is evident from the F.l.R. as well as his statement and statements of other witnesses that the F.l.R. was drawn-up on the basis of narration given by some of the police officials and others. In the FIR itself, it was mentioned that the informant had enquired into whole episode from the police personnel and outsiders. Prior to 19.3.1984 there was some internal dispute between the groups of labourers working in the Paradeep Port area. It is further revealed that since tension was prevailing a section of the Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) had been deployed since 14.3.1984·near Atharbank, popularly known as "Iron ore plot" to·maintain law and order. In the F.L'R. it was mentioned that in the previous night. that is to say, the night of 18.3.1984, a meeting had been held by accused Pandab Swain (acquitted), Bata Samal (respondent no.2), Bishnu Pradhan (respondent no.4), Sikhar Jena (respondent no.1 ), Sankar Sasmal (respondent no.3) and their supporters wherein it was decided to finish Shima Jena (one of the deceased). It was also stated that in the said meeting it was further decided to kill police personnel if they would come to" the rescue of Shima Jena, who was the leader of the rival group. In the FIR it was further recited that at about 9.00 A.M. on 19.3.1984, Havaldar U.C. Jena (P.W.2) had informed at the police station that Pandab Swain and his supporters were contemplating to attack the rival members and they were armed with weapons like lath is, bombs, . farsas etcetera and had attacked brick-bats. It is further indicated that in view of such development the Officer-in-Charge of Paradeep Police Station Sub-Inspector AK. Kanungo (one of the deceased), proceeded towards the Iron ore plot along with AS.ls. K.T. Rao (P.W. 3), S.K.Rout (P.W. 8), Havaldar U.C. Jena (P.W. 2) and several other constables as well as personnel of APR Force in a Trekker being driven by D.K. Das (P.W. 9) to tackle the situation. After reaching near Iron ore plot, these police officials found Pandab Swain, respondents 1 to 4 and several others (named in the F.l.R.) and five hundred others (not named in the F.1.R.), all of whom had assembled near the area. It was further alleged that these people were armed with lathis, farsas, iron rods etc. and were shouting to murder Shima Jena and his supporters and had already surrounded Shima Jena. Seeing this, the police party rushed near the place of assembly, but the mob became furious and started brick-batting the police party. Immediately a group of the violent mob overturned the Trekker in which the police officials had gone and assaulted the driver and set fire to the Trekker. Sikhar Jena (respondent no.1) and hundred others chased the 0.1.C. and party for assault and simultaneously set fire to the OSAP Tent. Lathi charges affected by the police party including the OSAP were over-powered b~ the turbulent mob and police personnel including Shima Jen~ were brutally assaulted by Maheswar Swain (acquitted), Bipin Daiei (not an accused), Gaganlenka (acquitted) and others by iron rod and farsas. It was further recited that the 0.1.C. having no other alternative ordered for firing and himself fired from his revolver in the self-defence. The mob attacked the 0.1.C. and the police personnel and snatched away the revolver from th~ 0.1.C. and three rifles from OSAP Sepoys a!ong with ammunition and themselves fired from it. Simultaneously certain members of the violent mob also inflicted fatal injuries on the head of the 0.1.C. and other police personnel. As a result, 0.1.C . AK. Kanungo, APR Mustaque Mohammad, APR Constable Niranjan Sahu, OSAP Sepoy No. 3, P.K. Mahapatra and leader of the opposite group Bhima Jena succumed to the injurie,s instantaneously at the spot. Besides, AS.ls, KT.Rao, S.K.Rout, APR Constables, OSAP Sepoys and. Havildar U.C. Jena sustained severe· injuries. The unruly mob also. set fire to the hutments of the rival labour group. Due to firing by the police, some of the members of the mob also received injuries. The police Trekker number OSU 2847 and OSAP Tent were completely gutted by fire. The informant further recited that after having received the information regarding serious law and order situation involving loss of lives of police personnel he himself rushed to the spot and after arrival found the mob escaping in different directions and he saw the dead bodies of the police personnel and Shima Jena lying scattered on the road.

pp. 846–848, margin A

On the aforesaid allegations, after completion of investigation, charge sheet was submitted against all the accused persons who faced the trial and some others who had absconded.

p. 848, margin C

Accused persons pleaded innocence. Accused Pandab Swain took the plea of alibi as he claimed that he was attending· a meeting in the. office of the Chairman of Paradeep Port Trust at the relevant time. Forty nine witnesses were examined to further the prosecution version. PWs 2, 3, 8 to 11, 14 to 16, 25, 28 to 31 and 36 were stated to be eye witnesses. Out of these witnesses PWs 2, 3, 8 to 10, 28 to 31 and 36 were police personnel whereas PW-11, 14, 15, 16 and 25 were

p. 848, margin D

stated to be supporters of the deceased. Ten witnesses were examined by the accused persons primarily to prove the plea of alibi. As noted above, five persons lost their lives for which charges have been framed. The deaths took place at different spots but in the same area. The trial Court disbelieved some of the witnesses· but convicted the respondents for having caused the death of AK. Kanungo, the officer-in-charge and in respect of other allied offences. The conviction of the said respondents was primarily based on the evidence of PWs 2 and 8. PW-2 was one of the Havaldars of Paradeep Police station. Respondents 1 to 5 were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC') and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life. Those five respondents were also convicted under Section 307 read with Section 149 IPC for attempting to <;:ause murder and. sentenced to undergo RI for seven years; .under Section 330 read with Section 1491.P:C. al)d sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five· years and under Section 9 (b) of the Indian Explosives Act, (in short 'Explosive Act') read with Section 149 IPC and sentenced to undergo RI for two years. Respondents 1 to 3 were further convicted under Section 148 IPC and respondents 4 and 5 were convicted under Section 147 l.P.C and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and two years respectively. Respondent No.6 has been convicted under section 353 1.P.C. and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years.

pp. 848–849, margin E

Originally, 114 accused persons were prosecuted and faced trial under twenty nine heads of charges. Out of the 114 accused persons, a few expired during the trial. Ultimately, apart from the six respondents, all other accused persons have been acquitted. In the absenc9 of any appeal against acquittal at the instance of the State, the acquittal of all other accused persons became final. The High Court by the impugned judgment allowed the appeal discarding the evidence of PW- 2.

p. 849, margin C

3. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that by a cryptic practically non-reasoned order the acquittal has been directed.

p. 849, margin E

4. Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand supported the judgment of the High Court.

p. 849, margin F

5. We find that the High Court has discussed in major parts of its judgment the factual scenario as projected by the parties. Thereafter by abrupt conclusions PW-2's evidence has been discarded. This certainly was not the proper way of disposing of an appeal involving accusations relating to death. of five -A persons. On that limited. ground, we set aside the impugned judgment and direct the High Court to re-consider the matter afresh dealing with various points highlighted by the prosecution and responses of the accused persons. If the High Court intends

pp. 849–850, margin G

to differ from the conclusions of the trial Court it has to indicate reasons therefor. Merely stating that the evidence of a witness is not believable would not suffice. We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.

p. 850

6. The appeal is disposed of accordingly. D.G. Appeal disposed of.

p. 850, margin B