Cauvery violence: NHRC issues notice to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka government

NEW DELHI: The civil and police authorities in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu remained mere "onlookers" and took no step in advance leading to large-scale violence and damage to property worth crores of rupees, the NHRC said today, issuing notices to governments of both the states.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed that authorities should have prepared themselves to tackle the situation in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's verdict on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.

Police and civil authorities responded "only after" large-scale physical violence and destruction of public and private properties, it said.

"After the event, imposing curfew further added to the denial of right of access to hospitals and other emergencies facilities for three days," an official statement said.

"It appears from the national television channels that civil and police authorities in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu remained mere onlookers and took no advance steps to stop the hooligans indulging in such illegal acts," it said.

The notices were issued to the respective governments through their Chief Secretaries and the Director Generals of Police, calling for reports within four weeks on the number of persons injured and destruction of public and private property.