People’s Watch has been deeply disturbed by the state of incidents of custodial torture and violence including those leading to deaths that have shaken the conscience of, well-meaning citizens, the government including different sections of the police itself.
V Vignesh was arrested by the Chennai police for allegedly possessing marijuana and a knife. On April 19, the following day, he died in police custody due to alleged custodial torture. While the officials have denied custodial violence, the family accuses the police of brutality, claiming it to be yet another case of custodial death.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently issued directions to prison authorities and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) to protect the rights of prisoners.
For ‘Rapid Decline’ in Civic Freedoms, India Added to CIVICUS Monitor’s 'Watchlist'
In its report, CIVICUS highlighted several developments that it saw as cause for concern.
New Delhi: India has been added to a watchlist of countries that have seen a “rapid decline” in civic freedoms by an independent monitor, highlighting the drastic measures taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to silence critics of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).