India responds to ICRC allegations of torture in J-K

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) India on Friday said it was an
open and democratic nation which adheres to the rule of law
and if and when an aberration occurs, it is promptly and
firmly dealt with under existing legal mechanisms in an
effective and transparent manner.
The statement by the official spokesman of the Ministry
of External Affairs came in response to the allegations by the
Red Cross appearing in WikiLeaks cable.
Security forces in Kashmir beat suspects, subjected them
to electric shocks and tortured them with water in widespread
human rights abuses, the Red Cross told the US Embassy in
2005, according to a leaked diplomatic cable.
"India is an open and democratic nation which adheres to
the rule of law. If and when an aberration occurs, it is
promptly and firmly dealt with under existing legal
mechanisms, in an effective and transparent manner.
"In India, there is a healthy tradition of democratic
debate and freedom of expression on all issues that concern
the welfare of our citizens anywhere in our country. Neither
have we shied away from an open and candid discussion on such
issues when raised by our international friends and partners,"
the statement said.
In a rare briefing with the then US ambassador to India
David Mulford, the ICRC in 2005 expressed concern over alleged
human rights violations in Kashmir and spoke about torture in
detention centres, though it pointed out that the situation
was much better than in the 1990s, according to the cable.
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