Six-month-old baby girl dies in police cross-firing

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show cause notice, under the protection of the Human Rights Act, 1993, to the Government of Chhattisgarh, and asked why the Commission should not recommend the payment of compensation of Rs one lakh to the family members of the baby girl who died in an alleged police cross firing incident in the state.

The NHRC sought a detailed report from the Chhattisgarh govt, for the violation of the human rights of the deceased within six weeks, after hearing a petition filed by Radhakanta Tripathy, a noted human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer.

Tripathy moved the NHRC alleging that a six-month-old girl died, while her mother suffered a bullet injury after they got caught in the cross-firing between Maoists and security forces in the forests of Bijapur district in Bastar region of South Chhattisgarh.

Since, the firing began suddenly and the woman, Masse Vadde (30) who was carrying her daughter, was frightened and started running to took for shelter. Meanwhile, both were hit by a bullet which was fired.

Stating the sorry state of affairs of the common man living in the conflict Zones, the petitioner, Tripathy alleged that due to prolonged inaction of the govt authorities, the poor villagers and common man are more often sandwiched by the security personnel and the Maoists.

Tripathy sought for a high level enquiry, impartial investigation and permanent solution of the issue of the prolonged conflict. He also sought for heavy compensation for the death and injury in the instant case besides medical care and benefits of social welfare schemes of the State or the center.