Wikileaks : India accused of torture and HR violations in Kashmir

[GUNNER]

WikiLeaks: India "Condones Torture" in Kashmir

Five years ago, the International Committee of the Red Cross told U.S. diplomats in New Delhi that the Indian government "condones torture" and systematically abused detainees in the disputed region of Kashmir.

The Red Cross told the officials that hundreds of detainees were subjected to beatings, electrocutions and acts of sexual humiliation, the Guardian newspaper of London reported Thursday evening.

The disclosure comes from the trove of secret State Department cables released to a number of news outlets by the document-dumping website WikiLeaks.

In the '90s and early part of the 21st century, an insurgency of separatist and Islamic militants that received some support from Pakistan fought against Indian police and security forces.

The Red Cross made the shocking allegations after privately interviewing 1,296 detainees in detention centers in the Jammu and Kashmir regions and other sites in India between 2002 and 2004, the Guardian reported. With non-private interviews included, the organization met a total of 1,491 detainees during the two-year period, the Guardian reported.

From the interviews, 852 detainees said they were abused, including 681 who said they were tortured and 171 who said they were beaten, the Guardian reported.

Of those who said they were tortured:

• 381 said they were suspended from the ceiling

• 302 said "sexual" acts were done to them

• 294 said prison personnel sat on a bar across their thighs, crushing the muscles in their legs

• 234 said they were tortured with water

• 181 said their legs were "split 180 degrees"


"Numbers add up to more than 681, as many detainees were subjected to more than one form of IT [ill-treatment]," a cable said. "The abuse always takes place in the presence of officers and ... detainees were rarely militants (they are routinely killed), but persons connected to or believed to have information about the insurgency".



WikiLeaks: India "Condones Torture" in Kashmir - World Watch - CBS News

 

[KALKI]

Well. Human rights violations must be checked. AFSPA and PSA must be withdrawn from areas with little or no militancy thereby reducing the visible presence of the security forces.

Having said that, let me add that human rights violations do take place wherever there is a theater of conflict in the world be it Sri Lanka (as stated in this very cable itself), be it in Pakistan's SWAT (as was reported earlier), be it in Iraq or be it in Kashmir.

Wherever there is a theater of conflict, human rights violations are bound to happen. Not to mention that they must be checked though.

It will be unfair to pin all the blame on India and Indian security forces alone as if we are alone in this. This holier-than-thou attitude must stop.

 

[SpArK]

If true, its a shame..

Hope the Indian authorities, take due not of it and act according to rules.

Any act like these are a violations of human rights.

I dont want to see another Guantanamo Bay in my nation.

 

[KALKI]

I wonder what excuse the indians will make up now for their actions?

There is no excuse. If we are wrong, we are wrong. Plain and simple.

Human rights violations must be checked. AFSPA and PSA must be withdrawn from areas with little or no militancy thereby reducing the visible presence of the security forces.

Having said that, let me add that human rights violations do take place wherever there is a theater of conflict in the world be it Sri Lanka (as stated in this very cable itself), be it in Pakistan's SWAT (as was reported earlier), be it in Iraq or be it in Kashmir.

Wherever there is a theater of conflict, human rights violations are bound to happen. Not to mention that they must be checked though.

It will be unfair to pin all the blame on India and Indian security forces alone as if we are alone in this. This holier-than-thou attitude must stop.

 

[KALKI]

If true, its a shame..

Hope the Indian authorities, take due not of it and act according to rules.

Any act like these are a violations of human rights.

I dont want to see another Guantanamo Bay in my nation.

It is most likely true, Benny. Deep down, we all know that we have commited and are still commiting serious human rights violations in J&K just like the Pakistanis have commited human rights violations in SWAT, Americans and British have commited human rights violations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sri Lankans have commited while trying to control LTTE.

The truth is, that wherever there is a theater of conflict in a region in the world and wherever there is heightened tension and security forces deployed in a conflict like situation, human rights violations are bound to happen.

**** happens and we're not alone in this.

 

[SpArK]

It is most likely true, Benny. Deep down, we all know that we have commited and are still commiting serious human rights violations in J&K just like the Pakistanis have commited human rights violations in SWAT, Americans and British have commited human rights violations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sri Lankans have commited while trying to control LTTE.

The truth is, that wherever there is a theater of conflict in a region in the world and wherever there is heightened tension and security forces deployed in a conflict like situation, human rights violations are bound to happen.

**** happens and we're not alone in this.

Its time for proper management...

This alienation of the state has to end and India needs to take steps to integrate the state just like other states into the main stream.

Massive projects that can generate job opportunities along with revival of tourism and traditional industries has to be on focus.

Farming ( apples and saffron are famous) should be made highly subsidized and steps should be taken to introduce private investment.

 

[KALKI]

Its time for proper management...

This alienation of the state has to end and India needs to take steps to integrate the state just like other states into the main stream.

Massive projects that can generate job opportunities along with revival of tourism and traditional industries has to be on focus.

Farming ( apples and saffron are famous) should be made highly subsidized and steps should be taken to introduce private investment.

Yes but first of all we must withdraw AFSPA and PSA from areas where there is littloe or no militancy left.

 

[shuntmaster]

Well. Human rights violations must be checked. AFSPA and PSA must be withdrawn from areas with little or no militancy thereby reducing the visible presence of the security forces.

Having said that, let me add that human rights violations do take place wherever there is a theater of conflict in the world be it Sri Lanka (as stated in this very cable itself), be it in Pakistan's SWAT (as was reported earlier), be it in Iraq or be it in Kashmir.

Wherever there is a theater of conflict, human rights violations are bound to happen. Not to mention that they must be checked though.

It will be unfair to pin all the blame on India and Indian security forces alone as if we are alone in this. This holier-than-thou attitude must stop.

The thing is we need to improve our policing methods all across the country, not just J&K. Police brutality is not just confined to insurgency affected areas. 3rd degree torture to extract confessions from accussed is a very common practice all over the country. Custodial deaths are not uncommon. GoI has to seriously look into the Police and judicial system.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

no new news......for those who are informed about the conflict, excesses committed by the occupation forces are no secret

many Kashmiris are on record giving their testimony about the draconian laws and brutal tactics being waged on them

mostly unarmed Kashmiri civilians of course, who are dubbed as 'militants' or 'terrorists' .....or in the past 'Afridis'

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

Human rights violations are the elephant in the room. Everyone does that, no one admits to doing that, and everyone accuses their opponents of doing that.

No big deal.

 

[UnitedPak]

Human rights violations are the elephant in the room. Everyone does that, no one admits to doing that, and everyone accuses their opponents of doing that.

No big deal.

I hope moderates in India do consider this a big deal or the extremism bar is set way too high.

 

[KALKI]

I hope moderates in India do consider this a big deal or the extremism bar is set way too high.

Moderates always fail when it comes to national security and may be rightfully so for when it comes to national security, anything is acceptable.

Moderates failed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Moderates failed in SWAT.

Moderates failed in Sri Lanka.

Where have they succeeded?

 

[ajtr]

Moderates always fail when it comes to national security and may be rightfully so for when it comes to national security, anything is acceptable.

Moderates failed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Moderates failed in SWAT.

Moderates failed in Sri Lanka.

Where have they succeeded?

And moderates are being failed in india.

 

[KALKI]

And moderates are being failed in india.

Just like anywhere else in the world.

 

[ajtr]

Just like anywhere else in the world.

but other places of world dont lie and deceit and pretend as india do---like being moderate peaceful democratic country.