Explain starvation deaths, NHRC asks UP

The National Human Rights Commission Wednesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain the starvation deaths and mortgaging of children by their parents in drought-hit Lalitpur district.

"A number of cases of starvation have been reported over the months and some families have sold or mortgaged their children for a small sum of money for their survival in Lalitpur," said an NHRC official.

"UP's chief secretary and Lalitpur's district magistrate have been given four weeks' time to submit a report into the allegations," he added.

The commission has also directed its Director General (Investigation) to send a team for an on-the-spot investigation.