Rights group demands probe into Assam starvation deaths

By IANS,

Guwahati : A human rights group in Assam has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge for a probe into the alleged starvation deaths of 11 people in a tea estate in Cachar district.


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The Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) has sent letters to the Prime Minister’s Office and the labour and employment minister seeking their intervention in the matter.

“Eleven people have already died due to starvation and the condition of many others is still serious. We have demanded setting up of an independent inquiry panel for looking into the incident that led to the death of 11 labourers,” wrote the BHRPC.

The BHRPC alleged that the 11 deaths occurred in Bhuvan Valley Tea Estate, a privately owned tea garden, due to starvation, malnutrition and lack of medical care. The condition of at least five others was serious.

The inquiry panel must be headed by a retired Supreme Court or high court judge and accompanied by nutrition and labour law experts and social activists, said Prasenjit Biswas, director of BHRPC research and study division.

“We had written to the state government through the district administration several days back. However, there was no response,” he said.

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