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NHRC issues show-cause notices to three states over anti-Christian attacks

In a significant move, the National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu note of the killing of an Australian-born Christian missionary and his two sons in Orissa and directed Union Home Secretary B P Singh to take immediate steps to ensure non-occurance of such incidents in the country in future.

The commission has ordered its director general (investigation) to make an on-the-spot study and file a report at the earliest.

According to NHRC sources, the commission also issued show-cause notices to Singh and the chief secretaries of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat on Monday.

The commission asked the state governments to scrupulously investigate and bring to book those involved in the incidents. The governments have also been asked to provide immediate relief and assistance to the victims and the next of kin of those killed.

The commission directed that the state governments should provide all necessary protection to the members of the community so as to restore confidence among them.

The states were also asked to place their reports before the commission on the steps taken, including the progress of the investigations, within two weeks.

The commission expressed deep shock and pain over the recent attacks on members of the Christian community in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Orissa.

In respect of each of the states, the investigating machinery of the respective states was said to have been set in motion to go into the tragic events.

Given the recurrent nature of such incidents, however, the commission felt that a pattern appears to be emerging threatening the pluralistic character of the country and constitutionally guaranteed human rights.

The sources said the commission was greatly concerned by these developments and was of the view that the menace must be promptly checked and adequate measures taken both by the states and the central government to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

UNI

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