396 people killed extra-judicially, 1,429 women raped, 42 killed by BSF in 2019: Report
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At least 396 people have been killed extra-judicially, 1,429 women were raped while some 42 Bangladeshis were killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in 2019, said a report of local rights group.
Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) revealed those information in its annual report titled ‘Human Rights Situation Analysis Report’.
The report was compiled based on data collected from prominent national dailies and fact-finding reports prepared by country-wide representatives.
HRSS published the report on information from January to December 2019. It also shows that the overall human rights condition was as dismal as it was in 2018.
“Security forces continue to enjoy impunity in cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. Violence against women, in particular, gang rape and child rape are on the rise. Consequently, the state has not been able to ensure peace, justice and security to its citizens,” read HRSS on Sunday.
Of them, 357 people were killed by ‘crossfire/gunfights’, 16 tortured to death, one shot to death and 22 died while in the custody.
The deaths occurred during raids and operations conducted by the law enforcement agencies.
On the other hand, a total of 23 persons have ‘disappeared’ at the hands of law enforcement agencies.
The report finds that in 2019, a total of 1,429 women were raped, and among them, an alarming number of 834 were children under the age of 16.
“It’s a rising concern in the incidence of raping crime that among victims at least 195 have been gang-raped. Among the victims, at least 58 were brutally killed after being raped. In 2019, around 150 women were killed in the family feud related violence.”
54 were killed and 2 women committed suicide for dowry related violence, and a total of 241 girls and women were reportedly victims of sexual harassment and 27 were injured in acid violence between January and December 2019, the report added.
“It is also alarming that in a total of 112 violent incidents against children in 2019, 56 lost their lives and 157 were critically injured,” it added.
A journalist was killed, 51 injured, whereas nearly 33 threatened, 17 arrested and 7 were assaulted, according to the report.
Meanwhile, 45 people were arrested and 49 cases filed under digital security act 2018.