The National Human Rights Commission will take up the issue of living conditions in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli with the Uttar Pradesh government during its visit here from January 15 to 17. A delegation headed by NHRC Chairperson Justice K.G. Balakrishnan will attend the sitting of the commission and hold discussions with State officials.
Two teams of the commission visited the relief camps set up for communal riot victims and submitted reports, which would be discussed with senior State officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police. According to an official spokesman, issues such as deaths in relief camps, medical facilities provided to victims, steps taken to protect them from winter and relief given to families of the deceased are likely to be discussed. The Samajwadi Party government is under fire from Opposition parties for the plight of the riot victims. The government has reportedly shut down two relief camps on government land at Loi in Muzaffarnagar district and Malakpur in Shamli.
A sum of Rs.5 lakh each has been given to riot victims in nine villages in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts for their resettlement. Fearing a backlash, the families refused to return to their villages and are reportedly staying put in makeshift shelters.
Special Secretary Home Virendra Pratap Singh told journalists that 103 cases would be taken up in the Full Commission and Division Bench sittings of the NHRC. These include matters relating to atrocities against SCs, malnutrition, sexual abuse of students, medical negligence and deaths owing to police action.
