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SHRC chief to visit Killi today

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI OCT. 21. S. Balaraman, acting chairman of the State Human Rights Commission, has said that he would visit Killi near Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow to gather evidence of the alleged police atrocities on the inhabitants.

He told The Hindu that he would record evidence from the victims as well as the police personnel allegedly involved. After the evidence-taking, he would give a report to the Government as early as possible. The Chief Minister himself had requested the commission to give a report on the incident.

Dr. Balaraman also said the Adivasi victims of the Muthanga police action needed to be paid interim relief immediately.

``Any further delay in relief payment would be an injustice towards these poor people who have already suffered a lot,'' he asserted. ``If the relief payment is denied to them based on finer legal points or because of a difference of views within the commission, people would not forgive the Human Rights Commission,'' he said.

Dr. Balaraman was commenting on the reported reluctance of the other member of the commission, T.K. Wilson, to sign on his (Dr. Balaraman's) report to the Government recommending payment of interim relief to the victims of police torture, including C.K. Janu, M. Geethanandan and the teacher, Surendran.

He pointed out that he had asked the investigating officer of the commission to probe the police firing in a few days after the incident as Wayanad district was in his jurisdiction. He said he believed in acting quickly and providing relief to the victims in any calamity as early as possible.

He said he did not want to wash dirty linen over the reported tussle between him and Mr. Wilson as it would damage the credibility of the commission.

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