Hindu, Delhi Wed, 15 Jun 2016, Page 9 Width: cms, Height: cms, a3, Ref:

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1 Hindu, Delhi Wed, 15 Jun 2016, Page 9 Width: cms, Height: cms, a3, Ref:

2 Statesman, Delhi Wed, 15 Jun 2016, Page 8 Width: cms, Height: cms, a3, Ref:

3 NHRC urged to probe Durai Guna s arrest CHENNAI, June 15, 2016 Updated: June 15, :33 IST Days after Dalit writer Durai Guna and his friend Bhoopathy Karthikeyan were arrested by the police, the Human Rights Defenders Alert India has urged the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the case contending it was a case of arbitrary arrest based on false and fabricated charges. In a press release, HRDA-India s National Secretary Henri Tiphagne said the police had filed false complaints to take a revenge on the human rights work of the activists. He recalled their work on the issues of illicit liquor and intercaste marriages. The forum also urged the NHRC to order an independent, transparent and effective investigation by an officer in the ranks of Deputy Inspector General of Police into the incident. We have also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission to order to initiate contempt proceedings and departmental inquiry against the Judicial Magistrate, Aalangudi, for encouraging a false compliant and the Medical Officer in-charge of Aalangudi Government Hospital, Mr. Tiphagne said. Mr. Guna was in the news last year when he and his family were subjected to social boycott by caste Hindus after he penned a novel highlighting the plight of a Dalit couple. Mr. Karthikeyan has been active in issues concerning intercaste marriages. Both were members of Periyar Ambedkar Cultural Centre and were actively protesting against illicit liquor in their neighbourhood, Mr. Tiphagne claimed. Police claimed that the two were arrested based on a complaint of Sivanandham that they had injured him, but he denied having made any such complaint and alleged that the police had obtained his signature in a blank paper. Mr. Sivanandham said he was being used as a tool by the police to settle scores with the two human rights activists.

4 NHRC seeks ATR from PMG over post office infra, vacancies 15th June 2016 BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Post Master General (PMG) to provide basic infrastructure and fill up vacancies for Talagopbindha post office in Bhadrak district. The Commission has also directed the PMG and Bhadrak Collector to submit an action taken report within eight weeks. Rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy had drawn the attention of the apex human rights panel stating that residents of Talagopbindha gram panchayat, mostly from poor and scheduled caste community, are suffering immensely as the post office lacks basic facilities and adequate staff. Though the staff strength of the post office is three, currently, only one person is managing the affairs. Moreover, the post office is functioning from the only staffer's home due to lack of a building, the petitioner pointed out. "One Harekrushna Mahalik, an elderly man has been working as post man for several post offices that include Talagopbindha post office which is illegal," he said. Though locals have intimated the Superintendent of Post, Bhadrak about the post office lacking its own building and staff shortage several times, no action has been taken so far. The inaction and failure of the postal authorities and district administration to act over the issue amounts to serious violation of human rights of the local villagers, Tripathy alleged. He has requested the Commission to investigate the case and direct the PMG and Bhadrak Collector to take appropriate action against the negligent officials responsible for the delay, besides ensuring basic human rights of the villagers. Earlier, acting on another petition filed by Tripathy, the NHRC had directed the PMG to take appropriate measures for post offices operating from dilapidated buildings in the State.

5 NHRC holds instance of alleged assault case by NTPC officer KOLKATA, JUNE 15: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has held an instance of alleged assault and torture of an NTPC officer, Rakesh Sahay, by Sunil Kumar, the then Dy Commissioner of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand as a violation of human rights discourteous and unseemly behaviour. Kumar was accused of assaulting Rakesh N Sahay, the Deputy General Manager (HR/EDC) of NTPC -Patratu Task Force, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The alleged incident took place in February According to NHRC, the report of inquiry conducted by the Additional Chief Secertary, Department of Home, Prison and Disaster Management, prima facie substantiates the allegation levelled by Sahay ( the complainant) and makes this an established case of violation of human rights. The Commission has also held that since there is no previous complaint against the officer (Sunil Kumar), this act may be considered as aberration. The Commission further states a notice under Section 18(a)(i) of the PHR Act, 1993 will be issued to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand directing him to show cause within four weeks as to why compensation may not be recommended to be paid to the complainant for violation of his human rights.

6 KIN OF 3 DECEASED DEVOTEES COMPENSATED, NHRC TOLD Wednesday, 15 June 2016 PNS BHADRAK in Bhubaneswar The Puri district Collector has informed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that the State Government has given adequate compensation to families of three devotees of Baleswar who had died due to suffocation in the Shree Jagannath Temple premises during Panchuka on November 3, Besides, the Collector too informed that the injured have been compensated and proper arrangements made to ensure availability of bare necessities in the temple. The NHRC had sought a reply from the Collector regarding deaths and Government actions there for while accepting a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy. He had alleged that devotees have died in the temple due to sheer negligence of the State authorities. He requested the NHRC to direct the Government to provide safety measures and pay adequate compensation to each of the victim s family. In his reply, the Collector informed the commission that one Tribeni Patra aged 62 years had died following uneasiness near Dakhinikali Lane on the Panchuka day. She had been taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, Puri, where she died. Doctors said she died due to cardiac problems. Her relatives had also not opted for postmortem. It appeared that death was not due to suffocation, he said in the reply. But three other persons died due to suffocation. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has given Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased through Collector, Baleswar, the Puri Collector said. Besides each injured was given Rs 14,000, he added. He too said arrangements have been made for controlling the crowd, protection of devotees, supply of drinking water, supply of medicine in the temple campus. Even if the NHRC expressed its satisfaction over actions taken by the SJTA, the ground reality is something different, said some devotees who frequented the temple in recent days.