PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, Dated: 18th June, 2015

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that Prahlad Prasad @ Latu Babu, a rights activist, who was fighting against the damage being caused to the environment due to Tori Railway Siding Project, was murdered on the 15th June, 2015 in District Latehar, Jharkhand.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, amount to violation of rights of the Human Rights Defender who was fighting for the promotion and protection of human rights at the grass root level. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Latehar calling for an action taken report in the matter within two weeks.

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