India ‘refuses’ to ratify UN convention on torture despite 19% rise in custodial deaths
A European Commission (EU)-funded report, “Campaign against Torture in India: Prevention, Accountability and Rehabilitation”, has regretted that, despite a sharp rise in deaths caused by torture, the Government of India has failed to frame a law on custodial torture and inhuman treatment, even though India is a signatory to the United Nations’ convention on torture.
The report, titled “India: Annual Report on Torture 2018”, published by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), and is part of an EU programme, European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy, which aims “to promote and support human rights and democracy worldwide”, comments, “As India refuses to criminalise torture, the increasing incidents of torture are no surprise”.
Deaths in police custody which mainly occur as a result of torture are rising in India. There is no letup in the number of custodial deaths in India. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received reports of 147 deaths in police custody during 2018. About a decade ago i.e. during 2009-2010, the NHRC had received reports of 124 deaths in police custody, indicating 19% increase of deaths in police custody. The NHRC further registered 525 cases of torture in police custody during 2018.…
https://www.counterview.net/2019/07/india-refuses-to-ratify-un-convention.html
SEE ALSO:
- Custodial Death of Two Muslim Youths in Bihar: Supreme Court to Hear Plea for SIT Probe (Jun 29, 2019, Indiatomorrow.net)
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/custodial-death-of-two-muslim-youths-in-bihar-supreme-court-to-hear-plea-for-sit-probe - Kerala Opposition In Assembly Walk-Out Over Alleged Custodial Death Case (Jul 1, 2019, NDTV)
https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/kerala-opposition-in-assembly-walk-out-over-alleged-custodial-death-case-2062037 - Kerala: Two cops arrested in connection with custodial death of prisoner, torture in jail suspected (Jul 4, 2019, India Today)
https://www.indiatoday.in/crime/story/kerala-two-cops-arrested-custodial-death-prisoner-1561024-2019-07-03 - Kerala govt orders judicial probe into Idukki custodial death case (Jul 5, 2019, Times of India)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kerala-govt-orders-judicial-probe-into-idukki-custodial-death-case/articleshowprint/70087901.cms
