The State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Report cites arbitrary killings, torture, censorship, and targeting of minorities, including ongoing violence in Manipur and across the country
NEW DELHI — The United States government has accused India of taking “minimal credible steps” to punish officials responsible for serious human rights violations, warning that abuses such as arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, and torture remain unchecked across the country.
In its 2024 Human Rights Report, released on Tuesday, the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour said the situation in India has worsened for vulnerable communities, particularly Muslims, journalists, and ethnic minorities.
The report lists “credible reports” of unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, degrading treatment, and political repression. It also documents coerced abortions, forced sterilisation, and the recruitment of children into Maoist armed groups.
According to the report, press freedom is under attack. Journalists critical of the government face harassment, threats, and arrests. Some have been jailed without fair trials. Independent media outlets have reported increased censorship.
A Kashmiri journalist, who asked not to be named due to security concerns, told Clarion India: “The space for honest journalism is shrinking fast. If you speak against the government, you risk losing your freedom — or worse.”
The US report devotes significant attention to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities. Violence began in May 2023 and has killed at least 260 people, displacing more than 59,000.
In 2024 alone, 48 civilians have been killed, with security forces accused of failing to protect vulnerable groups. President’s Rule was imposed in February after BJP leader N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister.
Student protesters have accused the central government of neglect. “We were demanding peace and justice, but they answered us with tear gas and stun guns,” said a Kuki student leader.
The report also highlights cases of sectarian violence, including attacks on Muslims and Dalits. Although some terrorism-related cases were investigated, accountability for communal violence remains rare.
Muslim activists say this climate of impunity has encouraged extremists. “When mobs lynch Muslims and those cases go unpunished, it sends a message that our lives don’t matter,” said Mohammad Faizan, a rights campaigner in Uttar Pradesh.
As of Wednesday, the Indian government has not issued an official response to the US report. Rights groups say this silence reflects the ruling establishment’s unwillingness to confront the reality of abuses.
Human rights lawyer Ayesha Khan commented: “When a democracy ignores calls for justice, it becomes complicit in oppression. This is not just about Manipur or Kashmir — it’s about a systematic attack on minorities.”
The report’s findings are expected to strain India-US relations, especially as New Delhi faces growing international criticism over its human rights record. Muslim organisations in India have urged the government to address these concerns instead of dismissing them as foreign interference.
As the US report concludes, India’s credibility as the “world’s largest democracy” is at stake if it fails to hold officials accountable and protect the rights of all citizens — regardless of religion or ethnicity.
