Tamil Nadu’s administration is under fire from the NHRC after a migrant worker’s horrific ordeal and subsequent vanishing act. In Tiruttani, 20-year-old K. Suraj from Odisha fell prey to a sickle-wielding gang of four teen addicts on December 27, 2025, near the railway station.
Rushed to hospital, his testimony was noted immediately, but FIR registration stalled until social media pressure peaked the next day—a red flag for Kanoongo of the NHRC. The real scandal erupted when injured Suraj slipped away unnoticed, with authorities claiming zero leads.
Priyank Kanoongo didn’t mince words, decrying the lack of search efforts or family contact as ‘utmost callousness.’ The notice to the Chief Secretary mandates finding Suraj, securing his treatment, explaining compensation denial, and detailing officer disciplinaries.
Beyond the assault, this saga unmasks deeper human rights deficits for interstate laborers. As India grapples with labor migration surges, NHRC’s intervention could catalyze nationwide reforms, enforcing accountability and protection in every corner.