United Nations experts have called for an independent investigation into Indian authorities’ handling of recent protests, alleging that demonstrators were injured and some reported being subjected to ill-treatment.
Opposition parties and student organisations have staged demonstrations in recent weeks, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a revision of voter lists they claim favours Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a statement, two dozen independent UN experts said law enforcement agencies had reportedly used force against unarmed students despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations.
They cited the use of lathi charges, in which police use batons to disperse crowds, as well as measures that allegedly prevented thousands of people from joining the protests.
“We call on the authorities to immediately cease the use of excessive force, rescind blanket assembly bans, and refrain from the misuse of digital surveillance, including through biometrics, and internet disruptions,” the experts said.
The latest demonstrations follow earlier mass protests over examination paper leaks during the summer, which led to the resignation of India’s education minister.
India has repeatedly rejected international criticism of its handling of domestic affairs, describing such interventions as interference. Earlier this month, the UN human rights office also raised concerns over mass detentions linked to the latest protests.
The Indian government said this month that law enforcement agencies had acted “strictly in accordance with the law”. The Indian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Protest groups claim that the removal of 130 million names from voter lists has disenfranchised eligible voters, disproportionately affecting poor and homeless people, as well as ethnic minorities, including Muslims.
They argue that these groups are less likely to support the Hindu nationalist BJP. However, both the BJP and India’s Election Commission have rejected the allegations.
The Election Commission maintains that the revisions were intended to remove duplicate entries, deceased voters, people who had moved and others who were no longer eligible. It said anyone mistakenly excluded could appeal the decision.
The crackdown has also drawn condemnation from human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The UN experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and document specific human rights concerns. They operate independently and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself.
