ISLAMABAD – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights MichelleBachelet in her address to the Human Rights Council’s 43rd sessionexpressed concern over the deadly violence that began in the Indian capitalon February 23, highlighting in particular reports of police inaction inthe face of attacks on Muslims, *The Wirelink* reported onThursday.
“I am concerned by reports of police inaction in the face of attacksagainst Muslims by other groups, as well as previous reports of excessiveuse of force by police against peaceful protesters,” she said in heraddress.
Last year at the 42nd session of the council in Geneva, Bachelet hadexpressed she was “deeply concerned link”after India initiated its clampdown in occupied Kashmir.
India’s move to annex Jammu & Kashmir through revocation of the region’sspecial status and imposition of a communications and travel lockdown wasalso strongly criticised by independent UN experts who termed the moves as”collective punishment” for the entire population.
On Thursday, Bachelet began mention of India in her address by referring tothe prolonged detention of political leaders in occupied Kashmir, accordingto *The Wire.*
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She also went on to talk about the contentious Citizenship Act that haspolarised Indian society and has been attributed to the communal violenceensuing in New Delhi.
“In India more broadly, the Citizenship Amendment Act adopted last Decemberis of great concern. Indians in huge numbers, and from all communities,have expressed – in a mostly peaceful manner – their opposition to the Act,and support for the country’s long tradition of secularism,” she was quotedas saying by *The Wire*
“This has now widened into broader inter-communal attacks, with 34 peoplekilled since Sunday 23 February. I appeal to all political leaders toprevent violence.”
