By Pratyush Deep& Basant Kumar / News Laundry
Last week, when the Supreme Court told the National Human Rights Commission that it can’t supersede the state election commission in West Bengal, it wasn’t the first time the NHRC had faced criticism for an ostensible bias.
The commission had decided to deploy observers in West Bengal in anticipation of poll-related violence merely on the basis of media reports. But it’s yet to take a step of similar scale in violence-hit Manipur, where it has sought the government’s response to a clutch of complaints before arriving at any “final decision”.
As per media reports, the NHRC swung into action in Manipur only after a viral video in July showed two Kuki-Zo women being paraded naked by a mob. However, as per a response to an RTI filed by Newslaundry, the NHRC had received 11 complaints by May 9 pertaining to mob violence and arson in Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Imphal, Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi districts.
It initially sought the Manipur government’s response by June 12, but it took another month to notice flaws in FIRs and compensation. On July 12, it then asked the Biren Singh government to file a detailed report by August 19.
But as a viral video of a sexual assault in Manipur triggered outrage, the NHRC eventually told the Biren Singh government to expedite the reports on the complaints – seeking a response within two weeks as against the four-week window.
This was in contrast to the events of the past few months.
This story was originally published in newslaundry.com. Read the full story here