New Delhi:
The Supreme Court has expressed concern at media reports that 50 children have died due to the cold at poorly-maintained relief camps in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar, and has ordered the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh to provide material and medical help to the people in these camps by tomorrow.
Here are the latest developments:
Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam said, "We are inside the court room and feel warm. But they are in the open and particularly in the coming months it would be difficult. UP government must take all steps from tomorrow itself." The region is bitterly cold in the winter months.
The court said it was displeased that the death of children had been reported despite its orders that the state must take adequate relief and rehabilitation measures. Even Parliament, it noted, had discussed the issue, which, it described as "a matter of serious concern."
The judges have asked the Uttar Pradesh government for a report on the situation. The Chief Justice said, "If we find the investigation is not satisfactory then we will consider the setting up of a Special Investigation Team."
The UP government told the court that it had already set up an investigation committee after seven infants died in October.
The court will hear the matter again on January 21, but has said blankets and medicines must reach the children and others at the camps within 24 hours.
Communal riots tore through Muzaffarnagar in September this year, after the murder of three young men in a village. Nearly 60 people were killed in about 20 days of violence.
As the riots spread, thousands of people fled their homes and crowded relief camps. Many have refused to return fearing more violence and have lived for the last three months in tattered tents and filthy conditions.
With the onset of winter, there has been a huge scarcity of blankets and woollens at these camps. Most of those who have died from the cold are infants.
The Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court today that about 40,000 people had returned to their villages from the relief camps, which currently house about 4,000.
Here is how you can help: Join the blanket collection drive by NDTV and Uday Foundation for Muzaffarnagar relief camps. Drop relief material at: NDTV, Archana Complex, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi-48; Or: Uday Foundation, 113 A/1, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Adhchini, New Delhi 110017. (More details here)
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