New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Tuesday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over a Dalit boy's killing for refusing to clean plates at an eatery.

The commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a customer shot dead the 11-year-old boy working at an eatery in Shamli district for refusing to clean his plate.

"The accused had come to the eatery on the night of Aug 28 and ordered food. Inebriated, he hurled abuses and asked the boy to clean his plate. Upon being refused, he lost his cool and shot the boy dead," said the commission.

It added: "Reportedly, a criminal case has been registered against the accused under the provisions of Indian Penal Code for murder as well as the provisions of SCs/STs (PoA) Act, 1989."

The NHRC said if the report content was true, it raised a serious issue of violation of victim's human rights and hence issued notices to the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, Shamli, to submit a report within four weeks.

The commission also asked them to inform about the monetary relief being granted to the next of kin of the deceased.