GUWAHATI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Assam chief secretary, V K Pipersenia, to look into the case of an alleged denial of basic amenities to more than 4,000 villagers due to “identity crisis” and submit a report within three months.
The issue came up for discussion during a two-day open hearing and camp sitting of the Commission in Guwahati.
Earlier, human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer, Radhakanta Tripathy, had filed a petition in the NHRC in connection with the case.
Referring to the latest electoral rolls, he had pointed out in his petition that Bamunjhar village was in Tamulpur sub-division of Baksa district but according to the affected villagers, their police station was in Sipajhar while the revenue circle was Patharughat — both in Darrang district.
“The villagers don’t know where they exist. More than 4,000 inhabitants in the village threatened to attempt self-immolation. The government has not been able to tell them which district their village belong to… Although an enquiry has been conducted by a magistrate, the issue is yet to be resolved,” he said.
“The Commission had a talk with the chief secretary yesterday (Wednesday). Subsequently, a committee has been formed to look into the matter.
The Commission has given three months time to submit a report in this regard,” NHRC chairperson, Justice H L Dattu, told media representatives in Guwahati on Thursday.
Pipersenia said he had no idea about the alleged denial of basic amenities to the villagers. “I will talk to the officials for details. We are looking into the matter,” he told The New Indian Express.
Meanwhile, 43 cases of Assam and Meghalaya were taken up during the two-day hearing.
The Commission was informed by the two State governments that in 10 cases, `2.59 crore was paid as monetary relief to the victims or their families.