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Under fire from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for its dismal track record of human rights in the Naxal-affected Bastar region, the Chhattisgarh government has announced setting up of a district-level Human Rights Protection Committee to be headed by the Collector.

This decision comes just a day after the government asked the DIG (Baster Range) S.P.Kalluri to proceed on medical leave following large scale allegations against him of “harassing and threateningâÂÂâ journalists, human rights activists and academics.

The Chhattisgarh government has come up with an Action Plan for the protection of human rights, including those of journalists and academics.

The Commission, taking suo motu cognizance of the reported allegations, had observed on the 16th November, 2016 that it was deeply disturbed by the state of affairs in Chhattisgarh over last one year or more. In response, the Chhattisgarh government informed the Commission that they had prepared a six point Action Plan to ensure that human rights are adequately protected in Bastar. As an urgent measure, the State Government has given standing instructions to the Special DGP/Additional DGP (Naxal Operations) to immediately recommend action to the Additional DGP (CID) in a case of gross violation of human rights wherein the action is found to be slow, lacking or inadequate at lower levels. 

The other measures include organizing training and orientation of the police force posted in Bastar Division to sensitizes them on the human rights issues and to ensure that human rights are not violated in the course of their duties;All police officers will ensure that human rights are not violated in the course of their work, be it in Naxal affected areas or elsewhere. Human rights violations will invite consequences. They would also be responsible for ensuring compliance among other police personnel under their command.There will be a clear, separate entry in the Annual Performance Assessment of All Indian Police Services and State Police Service Officers about their performance on human rights issues; and a district level Human Rights Protection Committee headed by a District Magistrate/Collector has been constituted in each of the seven Naxal affected districts of Bastar to receive complaints on human rights issues and to make suggestions to the State Government for taking necessary action. This committee comprises six district level administrative, police, law officers and two- three eminent citizens;A State Human Rights Protection Committee has been constituted under Secretary, General Administration Department. This will consider only those cases which has been not been disposed off at the district level or where the complainant is not satisfy with the action by the Districts Committee. This committee comprises seven senior level administrative, police, law officers and two-three eminent citizens/NGO representatives”