Why is the NHRC Criticizing Tamil Nadu's Response to the Attack on a Migrant Worker?
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New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed strong disapproval of the Tamil Nadu government's handling of the horrific assault on an Odisha migrant worker in Tiruttani. The commission pointed out issues such as the delayed FIR and the victim’s mysterious exit from the hospital without any follow-up actions.
The NHRC has formally contacted the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu after the young victim, who suffered severe injuries, vanished from the hospital, leaving the Stalin government with no tracking information.
In a shocking event that sparked significant outrage, four drug-addicted boys, all aged 17, viciously attacked an Odia individual with a sickle near the Tiruttani railway station in the Tiruvallur district last December. The victim was identified as K. Suraj (20) from Odisha.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo denounced the incident as a clear example of governmental failure.
In a post on X, Kanoongo stated, "The M.K. Stalin administration has responded to our inquiry regarding migrant worker Suraj, who was brutally assaulted in Tamil Nadu, by claiming that the victim left the hospital while injured and has since gone missing, with no further details available to the government."
According to him, the attack occurred on December 27, 2025, and while statements from the injured party were documented that same day, the FIR was only lodged on December 28 after social media pressure.
Kanoongo further emphasized that the immediate disappearance of the injured party raises significant concerns about the government's operational efficacy, as the NHRC member noted that the administration made no effort to locate the victim or connect with his family.
"Thus, we have issued a notice to the Chief Secretary with directives to: Locate the injured party and ensure he receives necessary medical treatment; justify why 2 lakh rupees in compensation should not be awarded to the victim; and provide information on actions taken against the negligence displayed by the police and administration," he added.