UN Experts Urge India to Halt 'Excessive Force' Against Protesters Amidst Rights Concerns

A group of UN experts has issued a strong appeal to the Indian government, urging an immediate cessation of what they describe as "excessive force" used in the crackdown on opposition and student protests across the country. The statement, released on Tuesday, highlighted concerns over injuries sustained by demonstrators and reports of ill-treatment. The independent experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, called for an impartial investigation into the conduct of Indian authorities.

The experts expressed particular alarm regarding reports of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based abuse that allegedly occurred during the protests and subsequent detentions. These UN experts, while independent of the UN organization itself, are tasked with monitoring and documenting specific human rights situations.

The protests, led this month by India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), alongside other opposition parties and student organizations, are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The core issue is the removal of 130 million names from voter lists, which protesting groups claim disproportionately impacts poor and homeless individuals, as well as ethnic minorities like Muslims, who are less likely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Both the BJP and India’s Election Commission have refuted these accusations. The Election Commission stated that the removals are part of a process to eliminate duplicate, deceased, shifted, or otherwise ineligible voters, and that mechanisms are in place for appeals by those erroneously excluded.

The UN experts noted that despite the reportedly non-violent nature of the assemblies, law enforcement agencies allegedly employed force against unarmed students. This included the use of "lathi charges"—a tactic involving coordinated stick-wielding by police to disperse crowds—and preventing thousands from participating in the protests.

"We call on the authorities to immediately cease the use of excessive force, rescind blanket assembly bans, and refrain from the misuse of digital surveillance, including through biometrics, and internet disruptions," the experts stated. India has a history of dismissing such international criticism, often characterizing it as interference in its internal affairs, including recent concerns raised by the UN human rights office regarding mass detentions linked to these protests.