The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has expressed concern over human rights abuses in India, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and violence against tribal peoples and disadvantaged castes. The committee cited reports of large-scale violations by law enforcement officials against various ethnic and ethno-religious groups, including Scheduled Tribes and Dalits. CERD called on India to investigate these allegations and bring those responsible to justice. India's review before the committee was its first since 2007, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta leading the delegation.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
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Story summary
India's government has been criticized by a UN watchdog for not doing enough to protect tribal peoples and disadvantaged castes from violence and discrimination. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concern about extrajudicial killings, torture, and violence against these groups, as well as hate crimes against Bengali-speaking Muslims. The committee called on India to investigate these allegations and hold those responsible accountable.
However, India's government has rejected the criticism, calling it "politically motivated" and "highly malicious". The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian delegation had already rejected the UN Committee's observations during a review meeting in Geneva earlier this month. This was led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
The CERD's concerns were based on reports of widespread human rights abuses, including racial motivated violence, excessive use of force, and arbitrary detention without due process. The committee noted that caste remains a significant determinant of social status in India, shaping access to resources, education, and opportunity.
Written for “UN Caste Discrimination Criticism” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.85 for article 2328 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
India must better protect tribal peoples and disadvantaged castes subjected to extrajudicial killings, torture and violence by law enforcement, a United Nations watchdog said on Tuesday.
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watchdog → protect → Tuesday
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) said the world’s most populous country also urgently needed to address hate crimes against Bengali-speaking Muslims.
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country → say → Muslims
“The committee was gravely concerned about reports of large-scale violations perpetrated by law enforcement officials against ethnic and ethno-religious groups, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, particularly Dalits, and non-citizens,” it said in a statement on its findings.
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it → concern → findings
“These included racially motivated violence, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary and prolonged detention without due process, torture, ill-treatment and sexual violence.
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These → include → process
The committee called on India to investigate all such allegations and bring those responsible to justice.
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committee → call → justice
Caste remains a powerful determinant of social status in India, shaping access to resources, education and opportunity.
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Caste → remain → resources
The millennia-old social hierarchy divides Hindus by function and social standing.
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hierarchy → divide → function
CERD, a committee of 18 independent rights experts, monitors adherence to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its 182 member countries.
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CERD → monitor → countries
Under the convention, which came into force in 1969, countries must eliminate racial discrimination, eradicate practices of segregation and guarantee equality before the law.
India appeared for review before CERD earlier this month, for the first time since 2007, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta leading its delegation.
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Mehta → come → delegation
The committee highlighted an increase in law enforcement operations targeting Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum-seekers.
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committee → highlight → Rohingya
It said police stops and identity checks involving racial profiling had reportedly resulted in arbitrary arrest and detention without due process, as well as torture and mistreatment.
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stops → say → process
The committee also voiced concerns about deportations and forced returns of people needing international protection.
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committee → voice → protection
It urged India to “urgently address discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes” against such groups, protect their rights, and refrain from collective expulsions.
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It → urge → expulsions
CERD’s opinions and recommendations are non-binding but carry reputational weight.
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opinions → carry → weight
In a statement, India’s mission said that during the review, its delegation “highlighted our pluralism, diversity, scale and complexity, constitutional and legal framework and safeguards… as we continue our journey towards ensuring equality, dignity and opportunity for all Indians”.
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we → say → Indians
