New Delhi:United Nations independent human rights experts have urged Indian authorities to stop using excessive force against protesters and launch an independent investigation into alleged abuses during demonstrations. The experts have raised concerns about injuries, detentions, restrictions on peaceful assembly and reports of mistreatment by security forces.
The intervention comes amid protests linked to revisions to India's electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations have raised questions about civil liberties, the right to peaceful protest and public confidence in the country's electoral process.
The UN experts have called for accountability for reported violations and urged the authorities to respect the rights of people taking part in peaceful demonstrations. Their concerns include allegations that police used batons against unarmed protesters, detained demonstrators and restricted public gatherings.
The experts have raised concerns about the treatment of young people, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers and political activists. Their statement refers to more than 7,000 people reportedly detained in New Delhi and taken to detention centres farther away. Many were said to have been released after 24 hours. However, the figure has not been independently verified as a nationwide total, and further details are needed to establish the period covered and the number of people who remain in custody.
The protests are closely linked to the Special Intensive Revision of India's electoral rolls, an exercise intended to update voter lists and remove duplicate, deceased, relocated and otherwise ineligible entries.
Opposition groups and protesters allege that the revision has removed the names of eligible voters and could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. They have also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising concerns about the independence and impartiality of the electoral process.
Reports have put the number of names removed during the revision at more than 130 million. However, the number of eligible voters wrongly excluded has not been established. The total number of removals should not be treated as the number of citizens who have lost their right to vote.
The Election Commission has defended the revision process, saying it is intended to maintain accurate electoral rolls. Voters can check their registration details and use available procedures to seek corrections or challenge exclusions. The central dispute concerns whether the process has been implemented fairly and whether eligible citizens have been able to exercise their voting rights.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission reject allegations of partisan bias. India's government has also defended the legality of the revision process and pointed to procedures for claims, objections and appeals. However, the legal basis of the exercise does not by itself establish that every individual deletion was correct or resolve allegations concerning police conduct during protests.
The demonstrations have also drawn attention to the treatment of political activists and student organisers. Earlier reports described extensive security measures in New Delhi and the detention of protesters ahead of planned demonstrations. The latest UN intervention adds to concerns raised by human rights organisations about the use of force and the detention of people exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The experts have also raised concerns about reported internet disruptions and the use of digital and biometric surveillance. Further verification is needed to establish the locations and duration of any internet disruptions and the extent to which surveillance measures were used against demonstrators.
India has rejected what it regards as politicised international criticism. On October 20, Indian diplomat Barkha Tamrakar addressed the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, arguing that human rights should not be used as an instrument of political pressure or selective criticism. She also objected to the use of unverified allegations and incomplete statistics to portray India negatively.
The Indian government's response highlights its disagreement with international critics over the country's human rights record. However, the response does not by itself resolve the specific allegations raised by the UN experts.
The experts' call for an independent investigation has placed renewed focus on whether the reported abuses will be examined and whether those affected will have access to effective remedies. The available information does not establish that an independent investigation into the alleged police abuses has begun.
The controversy raises two important questions for India: whether the electoral revision protects eligible citizens' voting rights and whether the authorities respect the right to peaceful political expression. While the government has a responsibility to maintain public order and accurate electoral rolls, its actions must also comply with applicable laws and protect fundamental rights.
The treatment of detained activists, the handling of complaints about voter registration and any investigation into alleged police abuses will be important in determining how the situation develops. The UN experts are calling for accountability, while the Indian government maintains that the electoral revision process is lawful and rejects allegations of politically motivated action.