Clashes: NHRC seeks report from Bengal

KOLKATA: The National Human Rights Commission on Monday sent a notice to the West Bengal government seeking a report on the Ram Navami violence within four weeks, after taking suo motu cognizance of the violence.In the notice served to state chief secretary Malay De, state home secretary Atri Bhattacharya and Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purakayastha, the NHRC expressed serious concern over the violence. It ordered the NHRC director general (investigation) to depute a team headed by a senior superintendent of police to investigate the violence and send a report within three weeks.

The NHRC stated that it had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter on the basis of media reports that alleged failure of the police to provide security to people during the communal violence. Citing media reports, the commission stated that police were mute spectators to vandalism.