The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding the brutal assault on a Class XI Scheduled Caste student by some upper-caste boys in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. The incident, which has raised concerns about human rights violations, occurred while the victim was travelling by bus to appear for an exam.
According to the report, the perpetrators dragged the student out of the bus and attacked him with a sickle, severing his fingers on his left hand. The victim’s father, who attempted to intervene, was also assaulted. The NHRC, in an official statement released on Tuesday, has called for urgent action.
The Commission issued notices to the Director General of Police and the District Collector of Thoothukudi, demanding a detailed report on the incident within four weeks. It expressed concern over the gravity of the situation and highlighted the serious human rights implications if the details of the report are verified.
The media report, dated March 12, further stated that the perpetrators managed to flee the scene after the attack. The injured boy was rushed to the hospital, where he was later admitted to Tirunelveli Government Hospital. After a seven-hour surgery, a team of doctors successfully reattached the boy’s severed fingers. The Commission awaits the response from the state authorities and has stressed the need for a thorough investigation.
