Police Lathicharge Tribals including children in Orissa, NHRC asks its Special Rapporteur to enquire
New Delhi, 6 June 2005
Taking suo-motu cognizance of a news report in the 'Asian Age' newspaper dated 17th May 2005 captioned "Lathicharge on Tribals kills babies too", the NHRC has directed that a copy of the news item be sent to its Special Rapporteur, Shri A.B. Tripathy, to inquire into the matter and to submit his report within two weeks.
The news story had stated that a group of tribals numbering around 5000 from the Kalinganagar area of Orissa had gathered on 9th May 2005 to protest against non-payment of dues for land acquired for the construction of Steel Plants and delay in rehabilitation by the State Government. They were brutally assaulted by the police and the barbarous and uncivilized act of police, the news report stated, had left four tribals including two children dead. Many more people who were injured in the alleged police lathicharge were reported to be in a critical condition. It was also reported that the police in order to justify its action have arrested 26 people including 25 women. The news item went on to state that a young girl, who was severely beaten up by police still remains untraced and that criminal cases against 300 unidentified tribals under various Sections of IPC have been registered. None of the policemen, according to the news report have sustained serious injury.
The Commission has observed that if the contents of the report are true, it raises serious issue of violation of human rights of the tribals.
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Taking suo-motu cognizance of a news report in the 'Asian Age' newspaper dated 17th May 2005 captioned "Lathicharge on Tribals kills babies too", the NHRC has directed that a copy of the news item be sent to its Special Rapporteur, Shri A.B. Tripathy, to inquire into the matter and to submit his report within two weeks.
The news story had stated that a group of tribals numbering around 5000 from the Kalinganagar area of Orissa had gathered on 9th May 2005 to protest against non-payment of dues for land acquired for the construction of Steel Plants and delay in rehabilitation by the State Government. They were brutally assaulted by the police and the barbarous and uncivilized act of police, the news report stated, had left four tribals including two children dead. Many more people who were injured in the alleged police lathicharge were reported to be in a critical condition. It was also reported that the police in order to justify its action have arrested 26 people including 25 women. The news item went on to state that a young girl, who was severely beaten up by police still remains untraced and that criminal cases against 300 unidentified tribals under various Sections of IPC have been registered. None of the policemen, according to the news report have sustained serious injury.
The Commission has observed that if the contents of the report are true, it raises serious issue of violation of human rights of the tribals.
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