'Sterlite firing': Madras Hight Court seeks NHRC probe report

Madras High Court has directed the National Human Rights Commission to submit a report relating to police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin in 2018. The Court also sought the Tamil Nadu government to submit an interim report of the Justice (retired) Aruna Jagadeesan Commission probing the police firing, writes R. Lenin, Senior Reporter, ETV Bharat, Chennai.

Chennai:The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday directed National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to submit a report relating to police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin in 2018, in which 14 persons lost their lives. On the other hand, the Court also sought the Tamil Nadu government to submit an interim report of the Justice (retired) Aruna Jagadeesan Commission probing the police firing.

The Court passed the interim order by Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director of People's Watch, appearing in person, challenging the closure order of NHRC dated October 25, 2018, and seeking directions to reopen the case into the killings of unarmed protestors.

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A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice TS Sivagnanam observed, "whether it is adequate to compensate the victims of such incidents of possible brutality and excessive police action, while not holding any person responsible for the deaths." Noting that it was not good in the civilized society governed by the constitutional schemes, the judges added that merely throwing money was not right to the family of victims and close the case.

"The Court has now served notice to the NHRC, directing it to furnish its 2018 spot investigation report in the matter and clarify its stand on the issue through a counter affidavit to be filed in four weeks. The investigation report may be filed in a sealed cover if the NHRC is of the view that the matter is delicate at the moment," the bench added.

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Meanwhile, Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram, who took notice for the state authorities submitted that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Jagadeeshan furnished an interim report recently, on May 14, 2021. The state has been directed to furnish an interim report and the matter was adjourned to August 9.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Henri Tiphagne, a human right defender, said, "It is a shame on NHRC, which miserably failed to investigate properly over the killing of unarmed protestors in Tuticorin. I do not have faith in CBI and other enquiry commissions, which are intentionally formed by successive governments to delay the investigations." "It has been almost three years since such a shooting incident happened, but justice is still denied," pointed out Tiphagne.

It may be recalled that when the anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin took out a rally on the 100th day, the police indiscriminately opened fire on them killing 13 persons on the spot and subsequently one lost his life. Autopsy reports showed that they were hit by bullets in the head, chest, and half of them were shot from behind on May 22, 2018.

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