Web Desk: A United Nations racial discrimination committee on Tuesday raised serious concerns over alleged widespread abuses by law enforcement officials in India, including excessive force, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued its findings after reviewing India during its 118th session, which ran from Aug. 10 to Aug. 25.
The committee said it was particularly concerned about reports involving ethnic and ethno-religious communities, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, Scheduled Castes, including Dalits, and non-citizens.
It called on Indian authorities to investigate the allegations promptly and independently and to ensure that those responsible face accountability.
The committee also highlighted what it described as increased law-enforcement operations targeting Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum-seekers.
It linked particular concern to the period following a 2017 Home Affairs order and the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir.
According to the committee, reports indicated that police stops and identity checks based on racial profiling had in some cases resulted in arrests and prolonged detention without due process. It also cited allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
The findings add a new international dimension to longstanding debates over security operations and minority rights in India.
Meanwhile, the UN panel expressed concern over deportations and forced returns involving people seeking international protection.
It urged India to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from returning people to places where they could face serious threats to their lives or fundamental rights.
The committee also called for stronger measures against discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes targeting Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum-seekers.
The reference to the Pahalgam attack places Kashmir at the centre of the committee’s latest findings.
Following the April 2025 attack, India intensified security measures in the region, while concerns over their impact on civilians and minority communities have drawn international scrutiny.
The UN committee said India should protect the rights of affected communities, avoid collective expulsions and ensure that people requiring international protection can access appropriate safeguards.
The findings do not amount to a criminal judgment against individual Indian officials. Rather, they represent the committee’s assessment of reported patterns of racial discrimination and human-rights concerns under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
India’s review was part of the committee’s latest session, which also examined Finland, Honduras and Kuwait.
The committee’s recommendations now put the focus on how New Delhi responds to the concerns, particularly whether authorities investigate alleged abuses, strengthen protections for vulnerable groups and ensure that security measures comply with due process and international obligations.
The findings also underscore a broader challenge facing India: balancing national security and immigration controls with its obligations to prevent discrimination and protect fundamental rights.
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