Medha Patkar to move NHRC over Dadri police ''atrocities''

Lucknow, July 11 (UNI) Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar would move the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) over the alleged police atrocities on farmers near the proposed Reliance Power Plant at Dadri, suspended Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member and Jan Morcha leader Raj Babbar today said.

Ms Patkar, who was sent to Dadri by Jan Morcha to assess the extent of police atrocities on farmers during a protest on Saturday last, would approach the NHRC against the Uttar Pradesh government.

''She would move the NHRC on her own and not on behalf of Jan Morcha,'' Babbar told mediapersons here. He said the NBA leader would move the Human Rights body ''in a day or two.'' Slamming the Mulayam Singh Yadav government for its claim that police had not used any force to discourage farmers from tilling the 2,800 acres of land sold by them to Reliance Energy three years ago, Babbar alleged that even elderly persons and children were not spared by the police. ''Mr V P Singh and I have been asked not to go near the site for one month...the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has fortified the village and the injured are not being allowed medical assistance.'' He claimed that the deadline set by the police would end on August 8 and they proposed to visit the injured on August 15. To a poser, he said since legal battles are a long drawn affair, Jan Morcha would not move the court on the issue.

''The farmers were protesting the poor compensation accorded to them for selling their land for the power project and the fact that the energy major has not yet started the construction even three years after purchasing the land,'' he claimed.

He alleged that while market rate was Rs 338 per meter, the farmers were paid between Rs 120 to Rs 150 per meter for their land.

''In a public rally, the CM had assured to compensate the farmers at the rate of Rs 310 per meter but that has not so far materialised,'' he said denying allegations that Jan Morcha was politicising the issue for political gains.

UNI NAB MB SB RS1405