NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging killing of Tribals' and destruction of their property by Chhattisgarh police and CRPF
New Delhi, March 28th, 2011
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that in the first week of March 2011, the Koya commandos of Chhattisgarh police and COBRA battalion of CRPF, while conducting an operation to destroy an arms factory reportedly being run by Maoists at Morpalli in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, torched 37 houses, sexually assaulted several women and killed three persons.
The report carried on the 23rd March, 2011 also alleged that the Koyas also burnt about 50 buildings, including homes and granaries in Chintalnar. Quoting some villagers, it was also reported that the Koyas went to another village Tarmetla and burnt about 200 structures, including homes, granaries and woodsheds. Koya is a tribal corps of surrendered Maoists and local youth.
Considering the matter today on the 28th March, 2011, the Commission observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human right to life of the tribal communities in Chhattisgarh and ordered that notices be issued to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Government of Chhattisgarh as well as Secretary, Ministry of Home, Government of India, New Delhi calling for their reports in the matter within two weeks.
The Commission has also directed them to inform on the following points as well:
i) What steps have been taken for rehabilitation of those families whose houses have been burnt;
ii) Whether any monetary relief is being considered for the victims whose human rights have been violated.
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The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that in the first week of March 2011, the Koya commandos of Chhattisgarh police and COBRA battalion of CRPF, while conducting an operation to destroy an arms factory reportedly being run by Maoists at Morpalli in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, torched 37 houses, sexually assaulted several women and killed three persons.
The report carried on the 23rd March, 2011 also alleged that the Koyas also burnt about 50 buildings, including homes and granaries in Chintalnar. Quoting some villagers, it was also reported that the Koyas went to another village Tarmetla and burnt about 200 structures, including homes, granaries and woodsheds. Koya is a tribal corps of surrendered Maoists and local youth.
Considering the matter today on the 28th March, 2011, the Commission observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human right to life of the tribal communities in Chhattisgarh and ordered that notices be issued to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Government of Chhattisgarh as well as Secretary, Ministry of Home, Government of India, New Delhi calling for their reports in the matter within two weeks.
The Commission has also directed them to inform on the following points as well:
i) What steps have been taken for rehabilitation of those families whose houses have been burnt;
ii) Whether any monetary relief is being considered for the victims whose human rights have been violated.
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