NHRC notice to K'taka govt over attack on Dalit writer

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Karnataka government over the alleged thrashing of a young Dalit writer in Davangere for "writing against Hinduism".
Taking suo-motu cognisance of a media report, NHRC has asked the Karnataka government, through its Chief Secretary, to submit a factual report within two weeks regarding the incident which occurred about a week back.
Also, according to a release here, it has asked the state government to state what assistance was provided to the victim in accordance with the SC/ST (PoA) Rules, 1995.
Huchangi Prasad, a 23-year-old student and author of the book, 'Odala Kichchu', which speaks against the caste system, alleged that he was assaulted on October 21 night by a group of unidentified persons who had threatened to cut off his fingers for writing against Hinduism.

Prasad had said he had received some minor injuries in the attack.
"On October 21 late night, a group of eight to nine persons... Took me to a place and started threatening and assaulting me for writing against Hinduism and caste system," Prasad had told PTI.
Karnataka Police had said that a case was registered against unidentified persons at RMC Yard Police Station in connection with the alleged attack on Prasad and that a hunt was on for the suspects.