India taking steps to restore normalcy in J&K; terrorists, Maoists committed human rights abuses: US report

CHENNAI: The United States of America in its ‘Human Rights Practices’ report has noted that the Indian government has taken steps to improve the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and restore normalcy in the erstwhile state. The report also mentioned the killings of killings and torture of security personnel, civilians and the recruitment and use of child soldiers by the separatist insurgents and terrorists in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast, and Maoist-affected areas.

India is a multiparty, federal, parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature, the report stated.

In its ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' to the US Congress, the Department of State noted that the Indian government partially restored Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, besides successfully conducting the local district development council elections in which opposition parties secured a majority.

Nongovernmental forces, including organized insurgents and terrorists, committed numerous killings. Maoists in Jharkhand and Bihar continued to attack security forces and infrastructure facilities, including roads, railways, and communication towers.

The SATP reported terrorist attacks resulted in the death of 99 civilians, 106 security force members, and 383 terrorists or insurgents during the year; this was the lowest numbers of civilians killed since the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) began reporting this data in 2000. As of July terrorists killed six political party leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.