UN official raps India over 'extrajudicial killings' |
NEW DELHI, March 30, 2012 - A top UN official called on India on Friday to investigate allegations of rampant extrajudicial killings and abolish a sweeping law that allows security forces to shoot on sight.
Christof Heyns, a UN Special Rapporteur, issued the call after travelling for 12 days through India's insurgency-hit Jammu and Kashmir state and the northeast, as well as the states of Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal.
Heyns, the UN expert on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, urged the Indian government to set up a commission of inquiry into widespread allegations of what he dubbed “so-called fake encounters”.
India must tackle a culture of impunity that protects troops, police and
The UN expert on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, urged the Indian government to set up a commission of inquiry into widespread allegations of what he dubbed “so-called fake encounters”
public officials from prosecution over illegal killings, custodial deaths and detentions, as well as improve rights for women and children, he added.
Heyns also urged the Indian government to repeal the harsh Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives authority to the army and paramilitary forces to kill suspected rebels, arrest people and destroy property.
In a More than 20,000 boys in Indianadministered Kashmir are facing trials which require them to appear in court at short notice, their lawyers allege.
The teenagers have been charged over their alleged role in throwing stones at the security forces during anti-india demonstrations.
Last year, the authorities announced a general amnesty for youths involved in "mild offences".
But officials later said no-one was spared from prosecution.
Activists allege the boys are hounded by the state authorities with police frequently summoning them to court. Child rights activist AR Hanjoora says the frequent court appearances have begun to affect the mental health of many of the youths. (Compiled fron Afpandbbcreports)