The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay Rs 2 lakh each to five animal activists for “blatant violation of their human rights” after they were allegedly assaulted at a police lock up in Nanded in February this year.

In February, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the case where a police officer in Nanded allegedly assaulted some youth for stopping vehicles carrying smuggled cows, news wire PTI reported.