NHRC notice to W Bengal govt on Nandigram violence

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sent notice to West Bengal government on Nandigram violence and sought a factual report within two weeks on the incident.

The Commission directed the state Chief Secretary and the DGP for factual report on the incident, in which 14 people were killed in police firing.

Taking suo-motu cognizance of newspaper reports, NHRC said if the contents are true they raise a serious issue of violation of Human Rights of the citizens.

According to the news reports, the decision of the West Bengal Government to send a huge contingent of police to Nandigram, led to the killing of at least 14 people in police firing yesterday.

''At least 5,000 strong police force encircled Nandigram from two points- Bhangaberia and Tekhali,'' it added.

The police reportedly cautioned the villagers against offering any resistance to their entry.

The report claimed that according to Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee the number of dead may increase to 50.

Another newspaper report said the State Governor had expressed the view that the use of force in Nandigram could have been avoided.

UNI