NHRC issues notice to Home Secy, Delhi Police chief

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notices to Union home secretary and Delhi Police commissioner seeking a report on the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare, who was picked up from his east Delhi residence ahead of his planned hunger strike in favour of lokpal bill. HT reports.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notices to Union home secretary and Delhi Police commissioner seeking a report on the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare, who was picked up from his east Delhi residence ahead of his planned hunger strike in favour of lokpal bill.

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Acting on a complaint from a human rights activist Anirudhasudhan Chakraborty, the commission asked Union home secretary RK Singh and Delhi Police commissioner BK Gupta to submit a report about the action taken against Hazare and others within two weeks, an NHRC spokesman said.

Chakraborty alleged that police violated provisions of Constitution and international human rights conventions while taking action against Hazare and his supporters.

Meanwhile, former Supreme Court judge VR Krishna Iyer appealed to Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia to intervene to ensure the release of Anna and his team members.

Condemning the arrests, Iyer said it was "symbolic of Bharat behind bars". "Anna Hazare and his team members who are under arrest today are symbolic of Bharat behind bars. India is one here," a PTI report quoted Iyer as having said in Kochi.

Hazare wanted to protest the chronic malaise of corruption in a peaceful manner, but it was sought to be prevented by an order demanding "specific conditions to be satisfied as a pre-condition," which appear unreasonable and unjust in a country of ‘Gandhian vintage’, he said.