NHRC issues notices over training mowing down revelers in Punjab

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that more than 60 people died on the spot and several others got seriously injured in Amritsar district of Punjab, where people watching Dussehra celebrations from the railway tracks were mowed down by a passenger train on October 19.

The Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary of Punjab and the chairman of Railway Board calling for a detailed report within four weeks.

“The state government is expected to provide all the details regarding disbursement of relief and rehabilitation to the aggrieved families as well as the information on the status of the treatment being provided to the injured in different hospitals of Amritsar,” the NHRC said in a statement.

Issuing the notices, the Commission has observed that it cannot be said to be a sane act by people to sit on the railway tracks. At the same time, the NHRC said the negligence on the part of the district authorities was apparent behind this bizarre and horrific incident.

“It seems that the local authorities and the organizers did not properly manage the crowd gathered to watch the Dussehra celebrations. It was the responsibility of the state to provide proper safety and protection to the citizens during the event. If it is true that the railway authorities were not informed about the event, it indicates towards highly negligent and reckless attitude of the authorities responsible. This is a case of serious violation of human rights of the victims,” the statement said.

According to reports, several people were sitting on railway track, taking photographs and enjoying the burning of the effigy of Ravana, when a train passed through crushing the people.