UN watchdog criticises India over hate crimes and alleged law-enforcement abuses

A United Nations racial discrimination watchdog has said India urgently needs to address hate crimes against Bengali-speaking Muslims and strengthen protections for other vulnerable communities. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it was gravely concerned by reports of large-scale violations involving law-enforcement officials. Its findings also pointed to alleged abuses affecting tribal peoples, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, particularly Dalits, and non-citizens.

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The committee said the reported abuses included racially motivated violence, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary and prolonged detention without due process, torture, ill-treatment and sexual violence. It urged India to investigate all such claims and bring those responsible to justice. The panel also said police stops and identity checks involving racial profiling had reportedly led to arbitrary arrest and detention without due process, as well as torture and mistreatment.

CERD said it had seen an increase in law-enforcement operations targeting Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum seekers. It also expressed concern about deportations and forced returns of people who may require international protection. The committee said India must step up protections for tribal peoples and disadvantaged castes facing violence and discrimination, and it called for accountability where abuses are alleged.

The findings matter because CERD is one of the main international bodies monitoring compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. India is party to that convention, which requires states to eliminate racial discrimination, eradicate segregation and ensure equality before the law. The committee's comments place renewed scrutiny on how Indian authorities handle identity checks, detention practices and allegations of abuse against minority and marginalised groups.

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The review also comes against the backdrop of caste remaining a major determinant of social status in India, shaping access to resources, education and opportunity. The committee said India appeared before it earlier this month for the first time since 2007, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta leading the delegation. That long gap adds weight to the latest findings, which focus not only on discrimination but also on the conduct of law-enforcement agencies.

What remains unclear is how India will respond to the committee's recommendations and whether it will open new investigations into the allegations cited. The committee's release did not provide case-by-case findings in the material supplied, and it is not yet clear which specific incidents may be examined next. The key issue to watch is whether the government takes steps to address profiling, detention practices and alleged abuses in line with the convention's requirements.

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