New Delhi, May 28: Tough crackdown on terror in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, activities of anti-naxal force Salwa Judum and anti-Christian riots have been listed by Amnesty international among others as alleged human rights issues facing the country.
In its annual report for 2009, the international human rights organisation, has said, authorities responded to the November Mumbai attacks by tightening security legislation which includes “sweeping and broad definitions of acts of terrorism and of membership of terrorist organisations.”
“The legislations extended the minimum and maximum detention periods for terrorism suspects before they are charged,” the report said.
It said “more than 70 people were detained without charge for periods ranging from one week to two months in connection with blasts in several states throughout the year.”
“Reports of torture and other ill-treatment of suspects led to protests from both Muslim and Hindu organisations,” it claimed.
On the anti-Christian riots in Orissa, Amnesty alleged that police either failed to act or used excessive force resulting in the fatal shooting of 15 people when the minority community was protesting.
In at least two camps for the displaced in Orissa, the report claimed “Christians continued to be subjected to violent attacks by supporters of Hindu nationalist organisations…however, no judicial enquiries have been completed.”
The report also claimed that “communal protests” in Jammu and Kashmir rose to levels “unseen” in recent years and erupted into violence on several occasions.
“Police used excessive force to deal with the violence and shot dead more than 60 people,” it claimed.
On the Amarnath protests, the report noted that Central security forces “shot and killed” at least 40 people who defied curfew restrictions. The protests erupted over a Jammu and Kashmir government’s proposal to transfer forest land to Amarnath shrine board for development activities.
The report also mentions the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra and alleged that the police were slow to stop the attacks and arrest suspected perpetrators.
The international human rights body said, in West Bengal, the government acquired land without “prior and informed” consent of the farmers leading to protests in which 30 people were injured.
In a veiled reference to the ruling CPI(M) in the state, it said, “Police failed to protect protestors when private militias reportedly allied with ruling political parties violently suppressed the protests.”
It criticised both the state-sponsored Salwa Judum and the Maoists for targetting civilians, it said.
Members of Dalit communities continued to face attacks and discrimination, the report said, alleging that authorities failed to use existing special laws enacted to prosecute perpetrators of ethnic violence.
Bureau Report Tough crackdown on terror in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, activities of anti-naxal force Salwa Judum and anti-Christian riots have been listed by Amnesty international among others as alleged human rights issues facing the country.