NHRC’s own Investigation team to collect facts about complaints of human rights violations in West Bengal
The National Human Rights Commission has directed its Director General (Investigation) to collect all facts, particularly those relating to the allegations pertaining to the incidents of violence at the villages Choto Anguria and Keshpur. An Investigation Team will visit the Midnapore District in this connection.
The Commission had considered the matter brought to its notice by Dr. Tamali Sengupta, Advocate, and reiterated by several others who had complained of serious violations of human rights in the Midnapore Distirict of West Bengal recently. Particular mention had been made of the dastardly acts of arson in which house of one Abdul Rahman was set on fire. It has alleged that related acts of violence resulted in the killing of those inside the house and Shri Rahman, who somehow managed to escape, is now in a state of deep shock and trauma.
Earlier the Commission had issued notice to the Government of West Bengal on 3 January 2001 on a similar complaint, the reply to which is still awaited. It has further received additional material of evidence of violence in the report of Members of Parliament, who had visited Midnapore District. The MPs had then met the Commission and appraised it of their views. The Commission has now directed that the report of the MPs may also be forwarded to the Government of West Bengal, requiring them to deal with the same in their reply.
In view of the urgency of the matter, the Government of West Bengal has been requested to ensure that its comprehensive reply including reply to allegations contained in the reports of the MPs is submitted to the Commission by 31 January 2001, positively.
However in the circumstances of the case, the Commission felt it necessary now to depute its own Investigation Division to collect facts without any further delay to enable further consideration of the matter by the Commission.
The Commission had considered the matter brought to its notice by Dr. Tamali Sengupta, Advocate, and reiterated by several others who had complained of serious violations of human rights in the Midnapore Distirict of West Bengal recently. Particular mention had been made of the dastardly acts of arson in which house of one Abdul Rahman was set on fire. It has alleged that related acts of violence resulted in the killing of those inside the house and Shri Rahman, who somehow managed to escape, is now in a state of deep shock and trauma.
Earlier the Commission had issued notice to the Government of West Bengal on 3 January 2001 on a similar complaint, the reply to which is still awaited. It has further received additional material of evidence of violence in the report of Members of Parliament, who had visited Midnapore District. The MPs had then met the Commission and appraised it of their views. The Commission has now directed that the report of the MPs may also be forwarded to the Government of West Bengal, requiring them to deal with the same in their reply.
In view of the urgency of the matter, the Government of West Bengal has been requested to ensure that its comprehensive reply including reply to allegations contained in the reports of the MPs is submitted to the Commission by 31 January 2001, positively.
However in the circumstances of the case, the Commission felt it necessary now to depute its own Investigation Division to collect facts without any further delay to enable further consideration of the matter by the Commission.