US report points out serious human rights abuses

In its annual report of the human rights situation worldwide, the United States has observed that while the Indian government respected the rights of its citizens, major problems like 'extrajudicial killings of persons in custody, disappearances, and torture and rape by police and other security forces' remained'.

The State Department report acknowledged that 'investigations into individual abuses and legal punishment for perpetrators occurred,' but added, 'for the majority of abuses, the lack of accountability created an atmosphere of impunity'.

'Poor prison conditions and lengthy detentions during both pretrial and trial proceedings remained significant problems,' it added, and said, 'officials used special antiterrorism legislation to justify the excessive use of force.'

The report also spoke of the existence of corruption 'at all levels of government and police,' and lamented the government applying 'restrictions to the travel and activities of visiting experts and scholars'.

It also bemoaned that 'significant restrictions remained on the funding and activities of non-governmental organisations.' The report also noted the 'increasing attacks against religious minorities and the promulgation of antireligious conversion laws.'

Violence associated with caste-based discrimination, domestic violence, child marriage, dowry-related deaths, honour crimes, female infanticide and foeticide were other issues mentioned in the report. The report also observed trafficking in persons and exploitation of indentured, bonded, and child labour as 'continuing problems'.

The report also slammed the extremism perpetrated by separatist forces in Kashmir, the North East and in the Naxalite belt, for 'numerous serious abuses, including killing armed forces personnel, police, government officials, judges, and civilians.'

'Insurgents engage in widespread torture, rape, beheadings, kidnapping, and extortion. However, the number of incidents has declined compared to the previous year,' it stated.

The report spoke of how despite the National Human Rights Commission's recommendations that all police encounter deaths be investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department, 'many states conducted internal reviews only at the discretion of senior officers.'

But pointing to one of the few examples where action was taken after allegations of wrongdoing against the police, it noted, "The Mumbai police dismissed senior inspector Pradeep Sharma after he was implicated in numerous encounter deaths. He is alleged to have killed more than 112 persons over 25 years."

Hillary Clinton, while releasing the annual report, pledged that ," As Secretary of State, I will continue to focus my energies on human rights, and I will engage as many others as I can to join me, both through traditional and untraditional challenges."

"Promotion of human rights is essential to our foreign policy," she added.

Clinton stressed that the Obama administration would not only "seek to live up to our ideals, we will pursue greater respect for human rights as we engage other nations and people around the world."

"I intend to work with NGOs, businesses, religious leaders, schools and universities as well as individual citizens, all of whom can play a vital role creating a world where human rights are accepted, respected, and protected," she stressed.