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.

Learn more: https://t.co/tXlUkSLCgm pic.twitter.com/PxFOFcoRtI

— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) January 11, 2019

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.

The Phd holders and PGs have to sign a self-declaration that they know how to ride a bicycle.

Uttar Pradesh – While Modi Government has challenged to fight the employment crisis in India, an irrefutable news has popped up from Uttar Pradesh under Yogi’s rule that over 93,000 candidates including PhD holders and post-graduates have applied for the job a peon.

According to a report by EconomicTimes of TOI, 3,700 PhDs holders, 50,000 graduates, 28,000 PGs have applied for 62 posts of messengers in UP police. The job role requires a minimum eligibility of Class V.

The PhD holders and PGs have to sign a self-declaration that they know how to ride a bicycle. Since huge numbers of over-qualified applicants come up, department has decided to conduct a screening process for the job roles that have been vacant for the past 12 years.

According to officials, the screening process will have basic reasoning, few questions on general knowledge and fundamental mathematics skills.

“The job is like that of a postman’s and the person has to deliver police telecom department’s messages from one office to the other,” a police department official told media.

However, the starting salary for the job is Rs. 20,000 per month, and stability that has eventually attracted many applicants.

There have been reports recently that earlier this year over two crore youths applied for nearly one lac jobs in Indian railways, while over two lac candidates applied for 1100 constable job role in Mumbai Police.

Surprisingly, the applicants include doctors, lawyers and engineers.

In a similar case in Rajasthan, 129 engineers, 23 lawyers, one chartered accountant and 393 post graduates were interviewed for jobs of peons.

Led by its local leader Manish Kumar, the group accused the youth of being involved in ‘love jihad’ , insulted the couple in public and forced them to sit at a police station for several hours.

They also called some media persons to the Medical College police station and asked them to click photographs of the students and intimidated the outnumbered police personnel when they objected.

The policemen then informed senior officials who sent additional police force to control the situation.

No one from the mob has been arrested.

Superintendent of Police (city) Ranvijay Singh said the police have received some videos and were trying to identify the troublemakers and their organisation. “Stern action would be initiated against them if found involved in any illegal activities,” said Singh.

VHP leader Manish Kumar was unrepentant and adamant. “People can’t be allowed to do anything in society even if the apex court allows adults to choose their partners,” he said.