56 custodial deaths reported in Odisha during 2017-2018: ACHR report

New Delhi, June 27, 2018: The Asian Centre for Human Rights in its report
“Torture update India” report stated that a total of 1,674 custodial deaths took
place from April 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018. Out of it, as many as 56
custodial deaths were reported in Odisha during the period. 

Out of the total 1,674 deaths, 1,530 cases were reported in
judicial custody and 144 deaths in police custody, respectively. The report was prepared as per the statistics placed by the Ministry of Home
Affairs in the Rajya Sabha on March 14, 2018.

The report was released on Tuesday.

“This implies 1,674 deaths in 334 days (11 months) and over
five custodial deaths per day on an average during 2017-2018. This constitutes
a significant increase in the number of custodial deaths as a total of 14,231
custodial deaths i.e. about four custodial deaths per day on an average were
reported during 2001 to 2010,” stated Asian Centre for Human Rights.

During 2017-2018, the highest number of custodial deaths
took place in Uttar Pradesh (374) followed by Maharashtra (137), West Bengal
(132), Punjab (128), Madhya Pradesh (113), Bihar (109), Rajasthan (89), Tamil
Nadu (76), Gujarat (61), Odisha (56), Jharkhand (55), Chhattisgarh (54),
Haryana (48), Delhi (47), Assam (37), Andhra Pradesh (35), Uttarakhand and
Telangana (17 each), Karnataka (15), Himachal Pradesh (8), Arunachal Pradesh
and Tripura (6 each), Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya (4 each), Mizoram (3),
Manipur, Chandigarh, Sikkim and Nagaland (2 each).

On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
2018 being observed on Tuesday, ACHR stated that India must commit to ratify
the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) and place the Prevention of Torture
Bill of 2017 as drafted by the Law Commission of India before the parliament
during upcoming monsoon session to address the menace of torture in India.