File report in 2 weeks: National Human Rights Commission

Taking suo motu cognizance, the NHRC ordered notices to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and the Chennai City Police Commissioner citing media reports that the police, without any prior caution, resorted to beating, arresting and damaging private property in order to disperse a large number of people gathered accross Chennai in support of jallikattu, calling for reports within two weeks. 

“The visuals on TV news channels show that police set on fire the huts, autorickshaws, two-wheelers, vegetable shops and other property in Chennai. Bleeding students ran for their life. Police even entered houses and started beating people indiscriminately,” the NHRC said, while ordering issuance of notices. 

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has also sought a report from the Director General of Police in four weeks over the police crackdown on the protesters after various videos went viral on Monday which showed the police crackdown on the protesters.

The police attack against pro-jallikattu protestors reverberated for a second day in a row at the Madras High Court, prompting it to direct the State to provide proper treatment to those admitted to the hospital with grievous injuries. 

When Justice R Mahadevan commenced his sitting on Tuesday, Senior advocate V Suresh submitted that police action on innocent people is a matter to be considered by the court. The judge besides directing the Advocate General to ensure that proper treatment is given to the protesters also directed the counsel to file an affidavit with all relevant materials establishing his charge. 

Following this, two others advocates—K Balu and Suryaprakasam—also made a mention regards the violence. While Balu submitted that it was the police who had triggered the violence and indulged in damaging public properties, Suryaprakasam sought to file a plea against the statements made by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Tamil culture as well as against PETA.