Chennai: The Madras high court on Friday directed the Egmore police to file a status report on the action taken pursuant to a complaint seeking to trace anti-Sterlite activist Mugilan, who has been allegedly missing since February 15.

A division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Nirmal Kumar passed the interim order on the habeas corpus petition moved by human rights activist Henri Tiphange seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu police to trace and produce the anti-Sterlite activist.

Executive Director of People’s Watch Henri Tiphagne submitted a memorandum to the Collector seeking ‘non-interference by the police’ during a public hearing by the NGT panel on Sunday.

Citing a number of previous incidents following the May anti-Sterlite agitation, he sought the support of the Collector and asked for appointment of Executive Magistrates to ensure that the police do not interfere with rights of activists and others who wish to visit villages, mobilise people and transport them in vehicles to the meeting venue of the NGT committee.

The ninth annual report of the Secretary-General details the level of retaliation against human rights defenders on a country-by-country basis, including allegations of killing, torture, arbitrary arrests, and public stigmatisation campaigns, which also target victims of rights abuse. 

India, China, Russia and Myanmar are among several countries named in a report by UN chief Antonio Guterres that details an “alarming” level of harsh reprisals and intimidation against those who cooperate with the United Nations on human rights issues.

தமிழக மக்கள் தங்கள் வாழ்நாளில் மறந்திடாத பெருந்துயரச் சம்பவம் தூத்துக்குடி துப்பாக்கிச் சூடு. உயிர் நீத்தவர்களின் உடல்கள் ஒவ்வொன்றாக அவர்களது உறவினர்களிடம் வழங்கப்பட்டு புதைக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. 

'இருள் சூழ்ந்த பள்ளத்தாக்கில் 
நடக்கநேர்ந்தாலும்
தீமையானதற்கு அஞ்சேன்!'

- தூத்துக்குடி துப்பாக்கிச் சூடு காவு வாங்கிய ஸ்னோலின் உடலின் முன் படிக்கப்பட்ட சங்கீத வசனங்கள் இவை. நேற்று அவர் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார். அதற்கு முன்தினம் தமிழரசனின் உடல் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டது.

TUTICORIN: Besides the manner in which the police fired at the anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin on May 22 and 23, the Coordinating Committee for People’s Inquest has found fault with the entire issue from the clamping of the prohobitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in select areas in the city on May 21.

NHRC team to begin investigation on Sunday

Forum to conduct public hearing on police firing today.

The National Human Rights Commission’s fact-finding team is expected to start on Sunday its probe into the killing of 13 persons in the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protest that turned violent in Thoothukudi on May 22. 

The fact-finding team, comprising a Senior Superintendent of Police, three Deputy Superintendents of Police and an Inspector, is likely to land here on Saturday evening and commence its probe on Sunday.

Committee to hear grievances of firing victims