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| 'Thousands die' in India custody | 'Thousands die' in India custody |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A new report by a human rights group says nearly 7,500 people have died in official custody in India over the last five years. | A new report by a human rights group says nearly 7,500 people have died in official custody in India over the last five years. |
| The report by Delhi-based Asian Centre for Human Rights says many of these people were tortured in custody. | The report by Delhi-based Asian Centre for Human Rights says many of these people were tortured in custody. |
| It says the Indian government is in a state of denial about torture. | It says the Indian government is in a state of denial about torture. |
| Even when action is taken against officials who are accused of wrongdoing, the report argues, the system tries to cover up any crimes. | Even when action is taken against officials who are accused of wrongdoing, the report argues, the system tries to cover up any crimes. |
| The Indian report was released to coincide with the United Nations' global day against torture on Thursday. | |
| The rights group has collated official figures and found that 7,468 people - that is four people every day - have died in prison or police custody since 2002. | The rights group has collated official figures and found that 7,468 people - that is four people every day - have died in prison or police custody since 2002. |
| Appalling | Appalling |
| Nearly all the deaths, it says, were the result of torture. | Nearly all the deaths, it says, were the result of torture. |
| But the government routinely attributes deaths in custody to illness, attempted escape, suicide and accidents. | But the government routinely attributes deaths in custody to illness, attempted escape, suicide and accidents. |
| Suhas Chakma, director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights, says prosecuting responsible officials takes a long time in India, and leads to a "culture of impunity". | Suhas Chakma, director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights, says prosecuting responsible officials takes a long time in India, and leads to a "culture of impunity". |
| "It takes about 25 - 30 years to prosecute somebody. And by that time many of the accused are dead, or possibly the relatives that have filed a complaint are dead," he said. | "It takes about 25 - 30 years to prosecute somebody. And by that time many of the accused are dead, or possibly the relatives that have filed a complaint are dead," he said. |
| "So there is a culture of impunity which is given by the government of India, and I think this is the single most important factor which is encouraging torture." | "So there is a culture of impunity which is given by the government of India, and I think this is the single most important factor which is encouraging torture." |
| The report also criticises an appalling record of torture among armed groups which fight against the Indian state - highlighting in particular the actions of Maoist rebels. | The report also criticises an appalling record of torture among armed groups which fight against the Indian state - highlighting in particular the actions of Maoist rebels. |
| But the onus is on the government, it says, to improve its record. | But the onus is on the government, it says, to improve its record. |
| Torture, it recommends, must be made a specific criminal offence. And the government should ratify the United Nations convention against Torture without delay. | Torture, it recommends, must be made a specific criminal offence. And the government should ratify the United Nations convention against Torture without delay. |