Geneva – Four UN human rights experts have expressed alarm about allegations of at least 59 extrajudicial killings by police in Uttar Pradesh since March 2017. India’s Supreme Court is scheduled to consider several of the cases on 14 January 2019.
The experts have sent detailed information to the Indian Government on 15 of the cases, most concerning individuals from Muslim communities living in poverty. They have yet to receive a response to their letter.
Evidence indicates the killings took place in police custody. In all of the cases, the police said the killings were during encounters and in self-defence.
“We are extremely concerned about the pattern of events: individuals allegedly being abducted or arrested before their killing, and their bodies bearing injuries indicative of torture,” the UN experts said.
#India: UN experts alarmed about allegations of at least 5⃣9⃣extrajudicial killings by police in #UttarPradesh since March 2017. India’s Supreme Court is scheduled to consider several of the cases on 14 January.
— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) January 11, 2019
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They also expressed concerns that the Supreme Court’s guidelines on investigations were not followed. This included police failing to inform family members of the killings, to conduct examinations of the scene, to provide copies of post-mortem reports to families, and to transfer cases to an independent investigative agency.
“We have also received allegations of corruption including the police demanding money to release the victim prior to the killing,” added the experts.
They expressed serious concerns about reports that family members of victims and human rights defenders working on the cases have been harassed, subjected to death threats from police and had false criminal cases brought against them in apparent attempts to intimidate them.
“Unfortunately we are continuing to receive reports of other similar cases of killings as well as threats and harassment,” the experts said. “These are extremely serious allegations requiring immediate action.”
They called for an urgent review of the use of force by Uttar Pradesh police to ensure all law enforcement operations were conducted in compliance with international standards, for prompt, independent, and thorough investigations into all allegations of potentially unlawful killings and for perpetrators to be prosecuted.
“Family members of victims and human rights defenders must also be protected from reprisals, and threats and harassment against them investigated,” the experts said.
They also highlighted their concern over statements issued by high ranking state government and police officials seeming to incite, justify or sanction killings.
The National Human Rights Commission of India opened an investigation on 9 May 2018 into 18 deaths, including those raised by the experts, which is ongoing. The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a request for a court monitored investigation into the killings by an independent body on Monday.
Taken verbatim from United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.
