Several women allege cops raped them in restive Indian state

File picture: Independent Media

File picture: Independent Media

Published Jan 8, 2017

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New Delhi – Police in India's insurgency-hit Chhattisgarh state raped and physically assaulted at least 16 women in 2015 and 2016, the country's top rights panel has found in an initial probe.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which conducted the probe following newspaper reports and complaints, said in a statement published in domestic media on Sunday that it had yet to speak to about "20 other victims."

Located in central India, Chhattisgarh is among the Indian states most affected by a left-wing Maoist insurgency that rejects parliamentary democracy. Human rights groups say people in the state have endured police atrocities committed in name of tackling the insurgency.

The allegations of rape and physical or sexual abuse were reiterated by the victims and witnesses before the NHRC team and local magistrates, according to the statement.

The commission was of the view that "human rights of the victims have been grossly violated by the security personnel of the Chhattisgarh government for which the state government is vicariously liable".

It issued a notice to state authorities ordering an "interim monetary relief" of 3.7 million rupees (about R740 000) to the victims.

The Maoists, who are active in many Indian districts, say their armed rebellion is to secure the rights of the poor and marginalised. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, more than 7 300 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in India since 2005.

dpa

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