NHRC seeks report from state on bodies floating in canal

CHANDIGARH: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an “action taken report” from the state government on a petition filed by Inderjit Singh Jaijee, convener, Movement against State Repression (MASR), with regard to bodies floating in the Bhakra Canal.

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 30

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an “action taken report” from the state government on a petition filed by Inderjit Singh Jaijee, convener, Movement against State Repression (MASR), with regard to bodies floating in the Bhakra Canal.

Jaijee had complained to the NHRC that every month about 30 to 40 bodies float to the Khanuri barrage on the Bhakra Canal. However, the state government did not extend any support to fish the bodies out of the canal and relatives had to hire divers for the same, he stated. However, a police post has been set up near the barrage to keep the count of the bodies.

In his latest letter to the NHRC e-mailed earlier this week, Jaijee has stated that even the government authorities concerned had started creating hurdles in taking the bodies out of the canal. “Police officials want that the bodies should be pushed further in the canal through the barrage so that they float downstream to Haryana’s territory,” said Jaijee. “I have informed the NHRC,” Jaijee said, adding that respecting the dead was humanity and showing contempt towards bodies is a criminal act”. Jaijee said showing disrespect to somebody’s mortal remains was a violation of human rights.

He said a number of missing persons were declared dead only after their bodies were traced in the canal.

In his petition to the NHRC, Jaijee had stated that in August 2012, the Punjab and Haryana Court’s then acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Sangrur to install two over-head and two under-water CCTV cameras at the barrage to record the position of bodies and for taking them out.

The court had asked to install the overhead cameras within a month and the Municipal Committee of Khanuri was asked to maintain these CCTV cameras.

When questioned about the same, Additional Deputy Commissioner Arvind Kumar said the administration had been facing problems in finding requisite technology to install the underwater cameras. He said the administration had put executive officer (EO) of the Khanauri Nagar Panchayat on duty to do the needful but the Nagar Panchayat was also facing financial and technological problems. However, the Khanauri Nagar Panchayat had recently passed a resolution to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek the review of its order passed in 2012.