US report slams India for ‘minimal’ action on human rights abuses
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Washington: India took “minimal credible steps” to identify and punish officials responsible for human rights abuses, according to a United States government report released on Tuesday.
The US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in its 2024 country report, highlighted significant human rights concerns in India, including credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, disappearances, and acts of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The Indian government has not yet responded to the report.
The report also cited arbitrary arrests and detentions, transnational repression against foreign nationals, serious abuses in conflict zones, unlawful recruitment or use of children in armed conflict by Maoist groups, and instances of coerced abortion or forced sterilisation.
It noted “serious restrictions” on freedom of expression and press freedom, including violence or threats against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions, and acts of censorship.
The US report highlighted that ethnic conflict in Manipur continued to result in human rights abuses in 2024. While the Union government’s armed forces maintained a buffer zone between factions, media reports indicated ongoing clashes, with 48 civilian deaths recorded as of October 29, 2024. The clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities, which began in May 2023, have so far resulted in at least 260 deaths and displaced more than 59,000 people, with periodic spikes in violence continuing into 2024. President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, shortly after Bharatiya Janata Party leader N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. Police reportedly used stun guns and tear gas to disperse student-led protests criticizing the government’s handling of the conflict.
The report further stated that incidents of terrorism led to deaths of security personnel and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East, and areas affected by the Maoist insurgency. There were also reports of communal violence, with authorities investigating and prosecuting terrorism-related abuses.
