GUWAHATI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has ruled that there is prima facie evidence of violation of human rights of a victim of a mob attack, who was beaten up for allegedly selling beef in his restaurant at a market in Assam’s Biswanath district last year.The victim, Shaukat Ali was hospitalized due to injuries and it was alleged that the miscreants also force-fed him with pieces of pork.The commission in its order last Thursday stated, “Thus, prima facie it is a case of violation of human rights of the victim for which the state is vicariously liable to compensate the victim,” and issued notice to the state chief secretary to show cause within six weeks as to why the Commission should not grant monetary relief of Rs 1,00,000 to the victim Shaukat Ali.The commission also directed the state director general of police to submit an action taken report against the guilty police officials within six weeks.Leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia lodged a complaint with the rights body on April 12 last year alleging assault on Ali and ransacking of his restaurant by some vigilantes in Biswanath district. Saikia also alleged in his complaint that Ali was beaten by the hooligans in front of police.Saikia alleged that an FIR has been registered, but no action has been taken by the police following which the commission in August last year directed Biswanath district superintendent of police to expedite the investigation and to submit a report within six weeks.The commission noted that on September 14, Biswanath district magistrate submitted a report to the commission where it was stated that Biswanath Chairali market was not leased out for 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 but the profession tax collector was collecting revenue from the said market involving few local unemployed youths.“The market is in Hindu inhabitation area and selling of beef hurts the religious sentiments of the local people and some youth thus insulted and disgraced Shaukat Ali. Some unidentified persons also inserted something in mouth but it could be ascertained if it was pork,” the commission stated in its order quoting the DM’s report.The commission in its March 12 order stated, “The commission has considered the report. It is clearly discernible from the report that the public servant was collecting revenue from the market involving some local unemployed youths which is against the law. The victim was found insulted and disgraced on the basis of caste/religion, therefore, human rights of the victim were violated by collecting revenue by a public servant i.e. profession tax collector illegally.”The commission noted that police have apprehended 15 persons and forwarded them to judicial custody.