Rights group for accountability onus on security forces

Guwahati, May 31 (UNI) The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) has said threat to the rights of the common people would persist if the Centre did not ensure accountability on its violations by the security forces.

In its 'India Human Rights Report 2007' released here yesterday, the ACHR said while the armed opposition groups were responsible for violations, the security forces were responsible for widespread, indiscriminate and disproportionate use of fire-arms.

Citing some major incidents like the massacre of 14 civilians at Kalinganagar in Orissa on January 2, eight civilians at Kakopathar and Makum in Tinsukia on February 10 and killing of four civilians at Seelampur in Delhi on September 20, the ACHR said the conditions of women and children remained deplorable.

''The conviction rate for crimes against STs was 28 per cent while the overall conviction rate under Indian Penal Code was 40.1 per cent and under Special Local Laws was 88.9 per cent,'' the report stated.

The report even accused the government authorities of failing to take appropriate action against the human rights violations by the security forces.

Alluding to the extra-judicial killing of Ajit Mahanta at Kakopathar in Asom's Tinsukia district, ACHR director Suhas Chakma said the punishment to the guilty army personnel were too lenient and was not commensurate with the crime of violation of the right to life.

''One of the two soldiers was suspended from his service for one year, while the other was merely sentenced to two months' military imprisonment,'' Mr Chakma stated.

The ACHR also rued that Human Rights defenders continued to face atrocities from the security forces and the armed opposition groups.

''In 2006, Habel Koloi, Chairman of Borok People's Human Rights Organization of Tripura and Umakanta Meitei, General Secretary of Threatened Indigenous People's Society faced incarceration under the National Security Laws before being released by the courts.

On the other hand, 78-year-old Rev Dr Tongkhojang Lunkim, Chairman of Kuki Movement for Human Rights was abducted by the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) and the President of Mizoram Bru Displaced Persons Forum was abducted by Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram,'' the report said.

UNI