NHRC notice to Assam over 2 deaths during protest incident

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Assam government in connection with the death of two persons at a protest incident during which police reportedly resorted to use of teargas shells to disperse the crowd.
The notice has been sent to it through its Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, and the Commission has sought a detailed report from it within four weeks, the NHRC said in a statement today.
The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that two persons lost life, one of them a middle-aged woman, when a near stampede situation arose after the police force resorted to use of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd protesting against an eviction drive conducted by the state authorities near Kaziranga National Park on the direction of the Gauhati High Court.

The Commission has observed that it seems that the district administration and the police authorities have not acted in a "sensible" manner.
"Due to their negligence, two persons have lost their lives. This amounts to violation of Right to Life of the poor residents," it said.
"According to the report, several rounds were also fired in the air, but the police authorities have maintained that the deaths were not due to bullet injuries," the statement said.
The incident occurred when the residents of Banderdubi village bordering the Kaziranga National Park, protested the district administration's eviction drive.
The residents are living in the area and earning their livelihood through cultivating mustard. The villagers claim that they have records to prove ownership of the land. Government schools have been operational in the area since 1960.