This report by the US State Department in 2006 found that major problems included extrajudicial killings of persons in custody, disappearances, torture and rape by police and security forces. The lack of accountability permeated the government and security forces, creating an atmosphere in which human rights violations often went unpunished. Although the country has numerous laws protecting human rights, enforcement was lax and convictions were rare. Poor prison conditions, lengthy pretrial detention without charge, and prolonged detentions while undergoing trial remained significant problems. Government officials used special antiterrorism legislation to justify the excessive use of force while combating terrorism and active, violent insurgencies in Jammu and Kashmir and several northeastern states. Security force officials who committed human rights abuses generally enjoyed de facto impunity, although there were investigations into individual abuse cases as well as punishment of some perpetrators by the court system.

Topics: respect for human rights, disappearance, torture, denial of fair public trial, civil judicial procedures and remedies, respect for civil liberties, freedom of speech and press, freedom of religion, freedom of movement, refugee protection, governmental attitude regarding international and nongovernmental investigation of alleged violations of human rights, women, children

Terms: excessive use of force, illegal abductions, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances,  custodial torture, custodial killings, state impunity, army impunity, Border Security Forces (BSF), Rashtriya Rifles (RR), custodial rape, rape as a weapon, violation of habeas corpus, right to trial, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA)