UN experts call on India to desist from excessive use of force against non-violent protesters and to initiate an independent probe into human rights violations during recent demonstrations, Al Jazeera reported.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the experts expressed concern over police baton charges, arrests and limits on public assemblies in New Delhi and elsewhere in the country, Reuters reported.
“Even though the assembly remained peaceful, police used force, like lathi charges, against unarmed students and used force to stop thousands from participating in the protests,” said the experts.
The experts additionally raised fears following accounts of injury, ill-treatment and sexual and gender-based violence in detention and during protests.
The campaigners urged authorities to “immediately end the practice of indiscriminate use of force, lift all blanket bans on assembly and avoid the resort to digital surveillance, including biometrics, and shutdowns of the internet”.
The protests have seen opposition parties and students rally over changes to the electoral roll that they say will take out eligible voters. Protesters accuse the Election Commission of removing names of residents who should be allowed to vote, and the Commission says it is simply removing dead and duplicate names.
India has previously dismissed international criticism of its protest crackdown as interference in its internal affairs. The experts urged that an impartial enquiry should be conducted to ensure accountability and justice for the people.
