Tamil Nadu: NHRC issues notice to Chief Secretary, DGP
The NHRC directed them to file reports in two weeks on a widely reported incident of police excess while dispersing about 300 people.
Chennai: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday has ordered notice to Chief Secretary, DGP, Tamil Nadu and Superintendent of Police, Tirupur, for unleashing attack against protestors including women protesting against the opening of a Tasmac shop in Samalapuram village in Tirupur district on Tuesday. The NHRC directed them to file reports in two weeks on a widely reported incident of police excess while dispersing about 300 people. The police started indiscriminately beating them with lathis and sticks due. More than 20 persons were seriously injured. Additional Superintendent of Police Pandiarajan, Pandiarajan was seen slapping a woman protester Eswari from nearby Ayyampalayam. The video went viral in social media and television channels on Tuesday.
The commission observed that the police had taken law into their hands by exceeding their power in resorting to indiscriminate beating of the protestors and a senior officer himself had gone to the extent of beating women who were standing helpless and defenseless. The media reports indicate that sad state of affairs in the place where the innocent and peaceful protestors beaten resulting in severe injuries. The action of the police was nothing but serious violation of human rights and rights guaranteed to women for their self-respect.
NHRC stated that according to the media reports, published on April 12, 2017, a Tasmac on a highway in Tirupur district was closed pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court. However, a new shop was opened in a residential area at Samalapuram Four Road junction. Over 300 local residents staged protest opposing the opening the shop and in that process they blocked the highway. The police tried to persuade the protesters bit in vain.