Chennai: Taking suo-moto notice of the law and order situation, arson and vandal attacks on public and private property following the Supreme Court orders in the Cauvery issue, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today pulled up both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for not taking preventive measures to stop the violence.

In a statement, the NHRC said that the civil and police authorities in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu remained mere onlookers while hooligans went about running riots. The NHRC accused the authorities in both the states of waking up to the situation only after it was too late. “Imposing curfew further added to the denial of right of access to hospitals and other emergencies facilities” for three days, the report said.

The Commission has issued notices to the Governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, through their Chief Secretaries and the Director Generals of Police, demanding reports on the number of persons injured and the loss to property, within four weeks.