Take 'prompt' action against assault on Kashmiris': SC directs chief secs, DGPs of 11 states

The Supreme Court on Friday directed chief secretaries and DGPs (Director General of Police) of 11 states to take "prompt" and necessary action to prevent incidents of threat, assault and social boycott of Kashmiris in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack which killed 40 CRPF jawans.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also directed those police officers, who were earlier appointed as nodal officers to deal with incidents of mob lynching, would be now responsible to deal with cases of alleged assault on Kashmiris.

The bench asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to give wide publicity to nodal officers so that they can be approached by those facing such incidents.

"The chief secretaries, the DGPs and the Delhi Police Commissioner are directed to take prompt and necessary action to prevent incidents of threat, assault, social boycott etc. against Kashmiris and other minorities," the bench also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna said. 

Supreme Court advocate Tariq Adeeb, who filed the petition on Thursday along with a request for an urgent hearing, also mentioned controversial tweets by Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy who endorsed a call to boycott "everything Kashmiri".

(With inputs from PTI)