NHRC notices to 4 states on ‘adverse impact’ of farm stir

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Report sought on ‘rape’ at Tikri

The NHRC has sought a report from the District Magistrate, Jhajjar, on alleged gang rape of a rights activist at the protest site in Tikri.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 14

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Centre and the Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments seeking action taken reports over complaints of alleged inconvenience caused to the general public due to the protests against the farm laws.

The NHRC also issued notice to the District Magistrate, Jhajjar (Haryana), calling for a reply by October 10 in the case of alleged gang rape of a rights activist at the protest site in Tikri. “No report has been received from the DM regarding payment of compensation to the kin of the deceased,” the commission said.

Acting on a clutch of complaints alleging that the protests had adversely impacted industrial units, transportation and the livelihood of people, the NHRC also put on notice the chief secretaries and the police chiefs of the four states. The commission noted that there were allegations of adverse impact on more than 9,000 micro, medium and large industries.

It has been alleged that transportation was adversely impacted, causing the commuters, patients, differently abled people and senior citizens to suffer due to heavy congestion on roads occupied by the protesting farmers, the panel said.

There is an allegation of breach of Covid protocols by the protesters. “There is further allegation that the inhabitants are not being allowed to move out of their houses due to blockade of the passage,” it said.

The NHRC has also asked the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) to examine and submit a report on the “adverse impact” of the agitation on industrial and commercial activities and disruption of transport services on commercial and normal consumers, including inconvenience and additional expenditure, etc.

The National Disaster Management Authority, Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Union Ministry of Health have been asked to submit reports with respect to the “adverse impact” of the agitation on various aspects and the observance of Covid protocol at the protests sites.

The commission has requested the Delhi School of Social Work, University of Delhi, to depute teams to conduct a survey and assess and submit a report on the disruption of livelihood and impact on the aged and infirm persons due to the protracted agitation.