India’s human rights record in 2011 got a thumbs down from a global rights group which has criticised the government for its inaction in repealing the controversial armed forces act and for remaining silent on the “gravest abuses” in countries like Syria. In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch (HRW) assessed progress on human rights during the past year in more than 90 countries. In India’s case, HRW said it has been a “disappointing year for human rights”. “Custodial killings, police abuses including torture, and failure to implement policies to protect vulnerable communities marred India’s record in 2011 as in the past,” HRW said in its report.
Asia director at the city-based organisation Brad Adams said the Indian government took few steps to “prosecute abusive soldiers, undertake needed police reforms, or bring an end to torture. Internationally, India missed opportunities to be a leader at the United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Council in protecting the rights of vulnerable people abroad.” HRW said the Indian government took no action to repeal the “widely discredited Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), disregarding the recommendations of political leaders and advisers”. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s call for ‘zero tolerance’ of abuses by the armed forces has been undercut by the near zero progress in holding the abusers responsible”, Adams said. HRW, however, said violence in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir dropped significantly during 2011.
