Human Rights in Punjab

On September 24, Human Rights Watch released a report, titled “Discouraging Dissent: Intimidation and Harassment of Witnesses, Human Rights Activists and Lawyers”:

[The report] documents how Hindu extremists have threatened and intimidated victims, witnesses and rights defenders who are fighting for the prosecution of those responsible for the killing and injury of Muslims during the riots. […]

On September 23, the National Human Rights Commission held its first hearing after beginning the collection of claims in the Punjab illegal cremations matter.  At the hearing, the Chair Justice AS Anand expressed a desire to grant compensation to some families before Diwali:

During the hearing on Thursday, Anand, upbeat with the 1,591 compensation claims filed […]

On September 23, the National Human Rights Commission held its first hearing after beginning the collection of claims in the Punjab illegal cremations matter.  At the hearing, the Chair Justice AS Anand expressed a desire to grant compensation to some families before Diwali:

During the hearing on Thursday, Anand, upbeat with the 1,591 compensation claims filed […]

The Central Government has decided to repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA):

[Home Minister] Patil said one of the main problems with Pota had been that it required the accused to prove their innocence rather than the prosecution to prove guilt….
He said bail provisions under Pota were also very difficult, resulting in long custodial […]

Soon after ordering the arrest of a Sub-Inspector of police for his role in the Ambica Society massacre during the 2002 Gujarat pogroms of Muslims, Indian Police Service officer Neerja Gotru was asked to conclude her probe:

Neerja Gotru, Ahmedabad’s SP (Prohibition) who on the Supreme Court’s direction was assigned investigation of three post-Godhra riot cases […]

A controversy erupted this week over the Nanavati Commission’s stance towards Sajjan Kumar, an MP who has been cited repeatedly by survivors and eyewitnesses as a major perpetrator and organizer of the 1984 pogroms of Sikhs. 
First, at the last hearing of the Nanavati Commission, MP and Union Minister Jagdish Tytler, Vasant Sathe, and Kamal […]

After the Supreme Court ordered the review of over 2000 cases closed after the Gujarat pogroms, a senior IPS officer reopened three cases relating to massacres in Kalol town.  In the case relating to the massacre of 13 people in Ambica Society, senior Indian Police Service officer Neerja Gotru arrested sub-inspector R.J. Patil:

He had been […]

In response to the massive protests across Manipur state at the brutal beating and death of a young woman in custody of the Indian Army, the government instituted an inquiry.  Last week, the judge heading the inquiry threatened four soldiers with arrest if they did not appear before him.  They had refused to cooperate, challenging […]