Give NHRC more teeth

Bastar’s top police officer S.R.P. Kalluri has been asked to go on long leave and a new DIG posted in the region that has a sizeable adivasi population, besides active Maoists; but it’s uncertain if the change of guard will lead to the desired change in mindset, away from the barbaric human rights abuses that leaves adivasis in a permanent war-like situation. They have suffered sexual assault, rape, violence and other forms of abuse over the years with the police emboldened to act this way in the name of fighting ideological extremists. Many brazen acts of violence by non-state and state actors recorded in detail by rights activists may lessen thanks to a key player being removed from operations. The officer systematically ran a brutal operation and threatened anyone who came in his way, like activists and journalists, against whom he foisted scores of cases, including murder.

The exploitation of the mineral-rich region by the corporate sector led to adviasis displaced from their land by coercion, with the police acting hand-in-glove with big business. The NHRC can take the credit for the state’s BJP government taking action at last. The rights body can throw light on gross human rights abuses, but usually can’t get governments to act. The strong strictures it passed on Bastar’s adivasis may have forced a tacit admission by the state government that problems exist. Empowering the NHRC to compel governments to act in proven cases of abuse might bring about not only rule of law but some reason to cheer too.