Latest news with #UNConventionAgainstTorture
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
When police turn killers, law and order dies first
Postmortem examination found 44 external injuries, besides cigarette burns, on his body. Every blow Ajith took from the policemen, now facing murder charges in a CBI inquiry, has left the Tamil Nadu police and the govt bruised. If they fester long enough to remain a discussion point during the assembly election early next year, DMK will have to pay a price (ask Edappadi Palaniswami how the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix in 2020 hurt AIADMK's electoral prospects the following year). Malathi was trembling when she stepped into the Thiruppuvanam police station in Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu on the night of June 27. Her 27-year-old son Ajith Kumar, a guard at their village temple, was detained there on charges (not yet officially framed) of stealing some jewellery that a visitor had allegedly kept in her car, which she had asked him to park. Malathi saw her son shirtless and bruised, barely able to speak. She didn't believe that her son would steal, yet she told him to return the jewellery if he had taken it. 'I didn't steal anything, amma,' he told her. The next day, Ajith Kumar was dead. PMK leader K Anbumani says there were 28 custodial deaths – and zero convictions – in the past four years of DMK govt. I haven't fact-checked this statement, but I won't be surprised if he is right. Police atrocity is a global crime, and its socio-political impact is steeped in history. The US has a bloody history of police violence, often fed and fuelled by racism. Incidents such as the police torture of Rodney King in 1991 led to the Los Angeles riots the following year when the police officers who were caught on tape beating the black man for alleged drunk driving walked free. The 'Black Uprising' was so fresh in public memory that it likely influenced the jury that found OJ Simpson not guilty of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994. Later, the killings of Trayvon Martin, Rekia Boyd in 2012, and Michael Brown and Eric Garner in 2014 led to the Black Lives Matter movement. In India, police have found underprivileged people easier targets to train their lathis and, in some cases, guns. Despite repeated observations of the Supreme Court of India that the authorities should show zero tolerance towards police high-handedness, men – and some women – in khaki continue to torture suspects, sometimes with zero evidence. India is yet to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1984. I shed no tears for rapists who take a bullet or two in their head – or hardened criminals who get away with broken limbs after those ubiquitous falls in the slippery bathrooms of our police stations. But when police unleash violence on someone for presumed guilt, those wielding the lathis deserve more than a rap on the knuckles. A common justification by these sadists is 'pressure from the top' to extract a confession. Such 'tough' men in khaki lack the guts to take on the erring mighty; they are also often the first ones to prostrate at the political masters' feet. If our police brass and policy makers are earnest in making policing less brutal and more efficient, a good place to start would be this 75-year-old paper in the American Journal of Police Science titled 'Police Discipline', written by G Douglas Gourley (An officer of LAPD that was later responsible for the Rodney King incident). The author says 'discipline' often carries a connotation of arbitrary and severe enforcement of rules, which is a narrow conception. His prescription for police forces: indoctrination of a generic discipline and ethics through rounded training, proper organizational structure and longer tenures of police administrators.
NDTV
12-07-2025
- NDTV
CBI Takes Over Tamil Nadu Custodial Death Probe, Files Case Against Cops
Chennai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Tamil Nadu police personnel in connection with the alleged custodial death of Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old private security guard posted at the Madapuram Temple in Sivagangai district. The case, originally registered as FIR No. 303/2025 at Thiruppuvanam Police Station, was handed over to the central agency by the Tamil Nadu government following widespread outrage, judicial intervention, and confirmation of torture in custody. Kumar was picked up by the police for questioning over a jewellery theft complaint lodged by a woman named Nikita. He died in custody under suspicious circumstances. His post-mortem report revealed over 40 injuries, indicating brutal physical assault during police interrogation. Earlier this week, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court confirmed custodial torture based on a Sessions Judge's report, calling it a clear case of illegal detention and custodial violence. The court had directed the CBI to appoint its investigation team within a week and submit a final report by August 20. The court went a step further by transferring the original theft case to the CBI, citing concerns over the fairness and integrity of the local police investigation. So far, five police personnel have been arrested, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has been suspended, and the Sivagangao District SP has been placed under compulsory wait. Chief Minister MK Stalin had earlier apologised to Ajith Kumar's family and insisted on a CBI probe to ensure transparency. "There should be no questions over the investigation," he said. The court also ordered compensation for Kumar's family and slammed the brutality of the custodial torture. "Even a murderer wouldn't have done this," the court had said in a previous hearing. This case has reignited urgent calls for police accountability, anti-torture legislation, and institutional safeguards against custodial abuse-especially in the absence of India ratifying the UN Convention Against Torture.
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Fiji Police Reaffirm Commitment To Human Rights In The Reform Of The Use Of Force Policy
The Fiji Police Force, in collaboration with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), supported by UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women under the UN Joint Peacebuilding Fund, successfully concluded a high-level consultation this week on the revision of the Use of Force Policy of the Fiji Police Force. The consultation brought together 30 senior police officers, with the consultation marking a crucial step in the comprehensive review of the Use of Force Policy, aligning it with Fiji's human rights obligations under international treaties, and the Government's Restore Blue initiative. The review of the Use of Force Policy led by the Policy and Research Team of the Fiji Police headquarters included the adoption of a new operational guidance and training tool – the Tactical Options Framework – which was introduced by the New Zealand Police, enhancing decision-making to ensure that use of force is reasonable, necessary and proportionate. The policy also incorporates the Perceived Cumulative Assessment using the Threat, Exposure, Necessity, Response model, and includes clear definitions, accountability mechanisms, and safeguards for vulnerable populations. Assistant Commissioner of Police Planning, Research and Doctrine, Aporosa Lutunauga said: 'As we ponder upon our vision A Safe and Secure Fiji along with our guiding mission to protect all individuals and prevent crime through strong partnerships and professional policing, we are reminded that it serves as the cornerstone for every strategy and action we undertake during this important phase. We affirm our dedication to fostering a Fiji where our values of professionalism, integrity, respect, inclusiveness, courage, and compassion should be reflected in our everyday practices and decisions.' The review is also aligned with Fiji's international obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which have been ratified by Fiji. UN OHCHR Regional Representative for the Pacific, Heike Alefsen, said: 'Police officers are on the frontline of protecting human rights and law and order, and through this, enabling social cohesion. Institutionalising human rights principles is a key element in any policing reform. The consultation represents more than a technical dialogue on policy – it is a clear affirmation of Fiji's commitment to the values of accountability, transparency, and the fundamental right of all persons to life, liberty, and security.' UNDP Pacific Office Effective Governance Team Leader, Rustam Pulatov said: 'Through supporting the Fiji Police Force in building a culture of accountability and trust, with this initiative reflecting our shared commitment to a safer, more inclusive society where the rule of law protects all citizens equally.' The consultation of the Fiji Police Use of Force Policy is an initiative by the Police Commissioner to implement recommendations from the most recent Universal Periodic Review of Fiji. The consultation also served to foster greater ownership and accountability by police officers when serving the public. The finalised policy is expected to be released later this year and will serve as a cornerstone for training, oversight, and operational guidance across all divisions of the Fiji Police Force. This workshop is part of the broader United Nations Peacebuilding Fund-supported Strengthening Social Cohesion Pathways, Human Rights and Women's Civic Participation programme, led by UNDP in collaboration with the Fiji Government and supported by UN OHCHR and UN Women, which supports national reconciliation efforts and strengthens social cohesion, as well as national human rights frameworks and institutions.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mumbai 26/11 attacks mastermind loses appeal against US extradition
Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is likely to be extradited to India from the US soon, following the US Supreme Court's rejection of his plea to block the extradition. A multi-agency Indian team is reportedly in the US to finalise legal and procedural steps to bring him to India. Mr Rana, 64, currently jailed in Los Angeles, had argued in his application that extradition would violate US laws and the UN Convention Against Torture 'because there are substantial grounds for believing that, if extradited to India, the petitioner will be in danger of being subjected to torture'. 'The likelihood of torture in this case is even higher though as petitioner faces acute risk as a Muslim of Pakistani origin charged in the Mumbai attacks,' the application stated. A team of three senior officers from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with three officials from Indian intelligence agencies, has arrived in the US to take custody of Mr Rana, according to sources in the Indian home ministry, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court rejected the Pakistan-born, Canadian physician's plea seeking to halt his extradition to India. The Indian officials reportedly departed for the US on Sunday after receiving confirmation of a 'surrender warrant', a legal requirement that allows a fugitive to be handed over to a foreign state, the outlet said. Mr Rana is known to have links with David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that resulted in the deaths of 166 people. Headley had conducted reconnaissance of the attack sites and played a central role in planning the assault. The coordinated three-day assault, which began on 26 November 2008, targeted several locations in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, a train station, and a Jewish centre, resulting in 166 fatalities. India holds the Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba responsible for planning and executing the attacks, although the Pakistani government denies any involvement. Mr Rana is accused of providing support to Headley during the lead-up to the attacks. His extradition to India was earlier approved by Donald Trump, who had publicly stated that Mr Rana should face justice for his alleged involvement in the deadly assault. The US Supreme Court first rejected Mr Rana's plea against his extradition to India on 21 January. His surrender to the NIA had earlier been approved by the Trump administration during prime minister Narendra Modi 's visit to Washington in February. Mr Rana challenged this decision by filing a review petition – first before a single judge of the Supreme Court in February, and later before Chief Justice John Roberts – seeking an emergency stay on his extradition. But the US Supreme Court rejected his plea. In February this year, during a press conference with Mr Modi, Mr Trump announced that the United States had approved the extradition of Mr Rana. 'I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India. So he is going to be going back to India to face justice,' Mr Trump told reporters at the White House. Although Mr Trump did not name the individual during the press conference, a joint statement issued later by both countries identified the person as Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin and a Chicago-based businessman. India Today reported, citing sources, that Mr Rana is expected to be in India on 10 April. The outlet reported that a special aircraft has been arranged to transport Mr Rana, with a brief stop planned at an undisclosed location before continuing to New Delhi. The operation is being closely overseen by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in coordination with senior officials from the NIA and the ministry of home affairs. According to The Times of India, two prisons — one in Delhi and another in Mumbai — were discreetly directed to make special arrangements in accordance with recommendations from the US judiciary concerning the handling of extradited individuals. Initially, Mr Rana is expected to remain in the custody of the NIA for a few weeks, the outlet reported. However, a source was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that 'there is no formal communication to the Tihar Jail administration, but they have also started a security assessment of his cell; they are likely to lodge him in a high-security ward. His cell will have CCTV cameras, with in-built bathroom facilities, and they will monitor his activities 24 × 7'. India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar, speaking at a summit organised by News18, responded to a question about Mr Rana's extradition: 'There is nothing new to add on Tahawwur Rana issue. We welcome the decision of the American legal process.' According to The Hindustan Times, NIA officials hope to obtain further information about the roles of conspirators based in Pakistan, including the alleged involvement of Pakistani Army personnel and ISI operatives in planning and funding the attacks.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US condemns Thailand's deporting of 40 Uygurs to China
The US condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Thailand's return of 40 Uygur men to China on Thursday and called for Beijing to provide regular access to verify their well-being. "As Thailand's long-standing ally, we are alarmed by this action, which risks running afoul of its international obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Hours earlier, Chinese and Thai officials confirmed that a group of 40 Uygur men who had been detained for over a decade in Thailand had been deported to China. The men had gone on a hunger strike last month as part of a public plea to halt their deportation. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. In January, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Jill Edwards and eight other human rights-related UN officials cited their opposition to the deportation, urging instead that they be provided with "access to asylum procedures and other humanitarian assistance". "The treatment of the Uygur minority in China is well-documented," the group said then in a statement. "We are concerned they are at risk of suffering irreparable harm." "As Thailand's long-standing ally, we are alarmed by this action," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Photo: Reuters alt="As Thailand's long-standing ally, we are alarmed by this action," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Photo: Reuters> On Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called the deportation "deeply regrettable" and a clear violation of international human rights laws and standards. The deportation comes as Thailand, a US treaty ally, seeks to strengthen ties with China, already a key economic partner. Thai officials stated that the Uygurs were repatriated at Beijing's request. Thailand does not recognise the status of refugees or asylum seekers and has signed neither the 1951 UN Refugee Convention nor the associated 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. The US State Department and rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uygurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the alleged mass use of surveillance and forced labour in camps. In 2022, a UN report said Chinese government policies in Xinjiang "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity". Beijing denies any abuses. During his Senate confirmation hearing last month, Rubio had said he would use the strong US ties with Thailand to prevent the return of Uygurs. Since then, the Donald Trump administration has made cuts to foreign aid, casting doubt on the effectiveness of US pressure on human rights issues. The 40 men returned are part of a group of over 300 people who left China and were arrested in Thailand in 2014. The men had hoped to use Thailand as a transit point en route to Turkey, home to a significant Uygur population. Thailand deported more than 100 Uygurs to China in 2015, and over 170 others were sent to Turkey in the same year. According to local media, at a Thursday news briefing in Bangkok, Thai officials led by Phumtham Wechayachai, the nation's defence minister and deputy prime minister, said China had promised that the deportees this week would not be harmed or face penalties. Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai (left) and Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong at a news briefing in Bangkok on Thursday concerning the deportation of Uygur refugees detained in Thailand to China. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai (left) and Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong at a news briefing in Bangkok on Thursday concerning the deportation of Uygur refugees detained in Thailand to China. Photo: EPA-EFE> The Thai officials said that all the deportees returned voluntarily after being presented a translated Chinese agreement requesting their repatriation and assuring that they would be allowed to live normally. According to FlightRadar24, which tracks flights from around the world, an unscheduled China Southern Airlines flight took off from Bangkok on Thursday and landed in Xinjiang the same day. At a Chinese foreign ministry news briefing in Beijing on Thursday, spokesperson Lin Jian identified the men as "40 Chinese nationals who illegally entered Thailand" and said that their return was a "step taken by the two sides to jointly combat human smuggling and other cross-border crimes". The Chinese embassy in Washington referred to Lin's remarks without offering further commentary. There were reportedly more than 40 Uygurs in detention in Thailand. It is unclear why only 40 were confirmed to have been deported. Earlier in the week, various US lawmakers had warned Thailand against returning the Uygurs. In a statement on Wednesday, the leaders of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party - Republican John Moolenaar of Michigan and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois - said that "moving forward with this action would severely damage US-Thai relations". "The US would be forced to consider all available measures, including sanctions, to hold those complicit in facilitating China's human rights abuses to account," they said. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
