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Land acquisition for the industries in the mineral-rich state of Chhattisgarh has come under the lens of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The NHRC held a two days camp sitting headed by its Chairman Justice K G Balakrishnan in Raipur that concluded on Thursday. The Commission took up 27 cases for hearing in the Full Commission and Division Bench Sittings. Six cases were closed after satisfactory replies from the State Government. The Commission recommended about Rs 20 lakh as monetary relief in different cases of human rights violations.
Besides the issues related to alleged rights violation in the sittings figured prominently, the social activists also drew the attention of commission towards the industry-related issues in the state that had been emerging as dream destination for investors. The activists pointed the issue of displacement of tribals for the industrial projects.
The activists said the public hearing for required clearances for the industrial projects was conducted under the shadow of police protection. They told commission that those opposing the industry had to face police action. Even the activists were not allowed to speak at the public hearing.
The commission recorded the views of the social activists and asked them to report specific case. The activists had presented a general picture of the situation that the commission wanted in specific and asked the complainant to brief the particular case of police atrocities on people opposing industrial projects.
The NHRC has asked the Chhattisgarh government to submit a detailed report within four weeks on the reports of more than 7000 unwanted hysterectomies conducted by doctors in the state to claim money under the health insurance scheme.
On the issue of alleged fake encounter of 17 tribals including four women on January 8, 2009 near village Singaram in Dantewada district, the commission said it was unsatisfied with the report submitted by the police and asked Director General of Police (DGP) to seek an explanation of the officer who conducted investigation.
