Why wasn't Dubey protected, asks NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Bihar police and the National Highways Authority of India in connection with the Satyendra Dubey murder case.

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Dubey, an engineer with the NHAI in Bihar, was killed one year after he wrote a letter to the Prime Minister's Office exposing irregularities in the implementation of the Golden Quadrilateral project.
 
Golden Quadrilateral, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's pet project, is an endeavour to connect four corners of the country by modern, four-lane roads.

NHRC Chairman A S Anand said the commission took note of media reports into the 'lapses' of the Bihar police and the NHAI's failure to act on Dubey's complaints. The commission has asked NHAI why Dubey's identity was not protected.
 
In a second letter to the PMO, Dubey had complained that his first letter was leaked, exposing him to pressure and threats.

The commission has given three weeks' time for filing of replies. Santosh Kumar, director general, investigations, will be asked to conduct an inquiry if the commission feels there is a need for an independent probe.

The prime minister has already asked the CBI to investigate the case.

Senior officials in Prime Minister's Office refused to confirm or deny that Satyendra Dubey's letter was received. "Please contact the Ministry of Surface Transport for reactions," a senior PMO official told rediff.com.

Officials at the ministry said since the metter is now pending before the Patna high court, they were not in a position to make any comment.

"The matter is sub-judice. In any case the minister is busy till next week. Please contact us after a week," an officer in the office of Minister for Surface Transport Bhuvan Chand Khanduri said.

With inputs from PTI