Karnataka State Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice S R Nayak on Wednesday said a situation may arise in future where the state may have to provide arms to people residing in naxal-prone areas so they are in a position to protect themselves.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of his visit to Chikmagalur on October 17 and 18 on a fact-finding mission to get details of Menasinahadya encounter case, Justice Nayak said the state will have to ensure protection of life and property of tribals in the naxal-infested alnad regions or provide them arms for effective confrontation.
“How do you expect families to protect themselves? Governments should take measures to protect tribals in the Kudremukh National Park, Sringeri and other areas and look into the socio-economic situations of the people,” he said.

Justice Nayak said the KHRC is awaiting the inquiry report being conducted along with the reports of Deputy Commissioner and SP.

 The KHRC chief said the NHRC has not yet informed the state commission whether it would conduct an inquiry.

‘No evidence yet’
“As of now, we do not have any material to form any opinion on the incident. We have heard the versions of both the police and the victims. There is no direct evidence to show it was a fake encounter.”

Calling on the state to  ensure confidence building measures to prevent gullible persons falling prey to naxals, he said people should not get the feeling of being marginalised.

“Achievement of goals through violent means is not the solution,” he said.

Commission members B Parthasarathy, M N Reddy and R H Raddy also visited Chikmagalur and met representatives from People’s Democratic Forum and South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring and recorded complaints of alleged police excesses and statements from the victims’  relatives.
The KHRC is likely to visit the area for a second time soon.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission is likely to receive the report of the TN bus torch incident that occurred in the aftermath of the controversial statements made by the TN chief minister on
October  5.