Cauvery water row: NHRC issues notices to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 17, 2016: Taking suo motu cognizance of the reports of large scale violent protests, arson and destruction of public and private property, worth crores of rupees, in Bengaluru by protestors against the directions of the Supreme Court, directing Karnataka to release water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu, the National Human Rights Commisio (NHRC) has issued notices to both the governments through their Chief Secretaries and the Director Generals of Police.

The NHRC has asked both the states to submit reports on the number of persons injured and destruction of public and private property during these protests.

Expressing its anguish over the incidents, the NHRC, in a hard hitting statement today said, "It appears from the National Television channels that civil and police authorities in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu remained mere onlookers and took no advance steps to stop the hooligans indulging in such illegal acts who played with life and liberty of the people."

The Commission also observed that the authorities should have anticipated and prepared themselves to meet the emergency situations in view of the sensitivity of water sharing issue faced by people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"The police and civil authorities woke up to the situation only after the large scale physical violence and destruction of public and private property," the NHRC added.

Taking serious exception to the violation of human rights due to the apathetic attitude of the people holding public office and their lack of accountability towards people’s life and safety, the Commission has given four weeks to Karnataka as well as Tamil Nadu to submit a detailed report.