According to the 2009 Indian Human Rights Report by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), released in the capital Friday, the death toll due to the Maoist conflict has doubled over the last four years, whereas a dip has been seen in the insurgency-hit areas of the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.
“The ministry of Home Affairs says that the a total of 920 people, including 490 civilians, 231 security personnel and 199 Naxalites (Maoists) were killed in Naxal violence in 2008. However the number of security personnel killed in Jammu and Kashmir decreased from 189 in 2005 to 75 in 2008 and in the northeast, it decreased from 71 in 2005 to 46 in 2008,” Suhas Chakma, ACHR’s director said at the report’s release.
The number of civilians killed in Maoist-affected areas during 2005 to 2008 were 1,965 in comparison to 1,666 in North east and 1,195 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Claiming there was a general apathy amongst the main political parties towards addressing Maoist insurgency, Chakma said although the political parties propose much in way of new powers to be given to the security forces, little emphasis is given to accountability.
“The 2009 general elections have been dominated by Naxal violence as never before. Earlier in April 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that the Maoists represent India’s biggest internal threat,” he added.
The report also takes up the case of atrocities inflicted upon the Dalit community in Uttar Pradesh.
“Atrocities against the Dalits and tribals under Dalit chief minister Mayawati have actually increased ever since she has come to power. As compared to the 6,628 cases of atrocities against the Dalits in 2007, there was an increase of 4.74 percent in 2008. According to Uttar Pradesh police, the total number of cases of Dalit atrocities in 2008 was 6,942,” Chakma said.
The NGO has now also asked the newly formed government to review all laws that provide prior permission to the central government to prosecute government and security officials in cases of corruption and human rights violations.