WASHINGTON: The Bush administration, shortly before quitting office, released a report which criticized India’s human rights record listing “significant abuses” in various parts of the country, especially in Punjab and Kashmir.
In its annual report to the US Congress recently, the state department said many of the human rights abuses in 1992 were the product of violent ethnic, religious caste, communal and secessionist activities and the Government’s reaction to them.
“As in past years, the main problems continue to include: police, parliamentary and Army excesses against civilians, particularly in Punjab, Assam and Kashmir, in response to attacks by militants,” it added.
In highlighted political killing, kidnapping and extortion by militants in Punjab and Kashmir and extrajudicial actions like beatings, extortion, torture, rape and fake ‘encounter’ killings by the police against detainees throughout India, incommunicado detention for prolonged periods without charge under national security legislation.
It also recorded the administration’s failure to prosecute the police and security forces implicated in abuse of detainees, widespread intercaste, religious and communal violence, inadequate implementation of laws Protecting women’s rights, infrequent prosecution of “dowry deaths” and widespread exploitation of indentured, bonded and child labor.
It said that political killings by both militants and the Government forces continued at an “alarming rate,” Particularly in: Punjab, Assam and Kashmir, the state where separatist insurgencies continued last year.
“Extrajudicial killing of detainees by police received increased Public attention in 1992, but there was little evidence that those are possible were punished,” it added. The document mentions six Principal militant groups which cared out activities in support of the struggle for independent Sikh State, Khalistan. It added. The document reported without comments the recent imposition Of the President’s rule in the BJP governed states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 12, 1993
