The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday has issued notices to the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, seeking reports on the large-scale violence following the Supreme Court order, directing Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Taking serious exception to the violation of human rights due to the apathetic attitude of the people holding public offices and their lack of accountability towards people's life and safety, the commission issued notices to the states through their chief secretaries and director generals of police, calling for reports on the number of people injured and the public and private property destroyed. They have been given four weeks to respond.
The commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the reports of large-scale violent protests, arson and destruction of public and private property, worth crores of rupees, in Bengaluru.
Expressing its anguish over the incidents, the commission, in a hard hitting statement, observed that it appears from the national television channels that civil and police authorities in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu remained mute spectators instead of taking steps to provide protection to life and property.
It also observed that the authorities should have anticipated and prepared themselves to meet the emergency situations in view of the sensitivity of water sharing issue. The police and civil authorities woke up to the situation only after the large-scale physical violence and destruction of public and private property. Imposing curfew further added to the denial of access to hospitals and other emergency facilities for three days, the commission said.
