Rights panel seeks report on 323 families living beyond wire fence
Agartala: The
Tripura Human Rights Commission
(THRC) has asked the district magistrate of Sepahijala and the managing director of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) to submit a detailed report on the status of Indian families living on the other side of the barbed wire fencing in the
Matinagar area
.Newly appointed chairman of THRC Justice Arindam Lodh has taken cognizance of a case of grave
human rights violation
involving 323 Indian citizens living on the other side of wire fencing in the Matinagar area of
Sepahijala district
and posted the matter for hearing on May 21.According to the report, a total of 323 Indian citizens living beyond the barbed wire fencing had complained that despite being regular consumers, they are now being deprived of
electricity supply
, as TSECL authority and district administration have disconnected the power supply to the residents.After the construction of border fencing around two decades ago, some gates used to remain open from 6am to 8pm and this posed no difficulty.
But a few years back the gates were closed two or three times a day and are now completely shut at 5pm. The problem has worsened by the suspension of electricity supply despite regular payment of bills.The residents have alleged that even the students cannot attend school on time, and in health emergencies, patients cannot be brought in for treatment or admission to hospitals.
The complaint letter alleged that they have now been allowed to purchase and install electric gadgets in their houses from across the fencing.After admitting the grievances, Justice Lodh said in an order that apparently there are cases of violations of human rights and directed district magistrate and TSECL to file their responses to the allegations in writing on or before the next hearing.
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