US Report Slams India On Corruption, Social Violence

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US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said widespread impunity at all levels of government remained a serious problem.

WASHINGTON – The US state department has highlighted “widespread corruption at all levels of government” and separatist, insurgent and societal violence among the most significant human rights problems in India.

“Widespread impunity at all levels of government remained a serious problem,” said the department’s annual report on human rights released by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday.

“Investigations into individual cases and legal punishment for perpetrators occurred, but in many cases a lack of accountability due to weak law enforcement, a lack of trained police, and an overburdened court system created an atmosphere of impunity,” the report noted.

Other highlighted problems included police and security force abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture and rape. Also listed were disappearances, life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention and lengthy pre-trial detention. “The judiciary was overburdened, and court backlogs led to lengthy delays or the denial of justice,” the report said.