In 2006, 374 people were killed in political violence whereas 310 people killed in 2005, revealed a report of human rights watchdog Odhikar which was released yesterday.

The report, prepared on the basis of stories published in 14 national dailies and its own fact-finding reports, said 355 people were killed by the law enforcers across the country in 2006. In 2005, 396 people were killed by law enforcers including 111 by Rab and 258 by police.

Of the 355 victims, 190 were killed by Rab, 147 by police, one by forest guard, four by Detective Branch of Police, four by coastguards, six by BDR and three by forest and coastguards jointly.

A total of 290 people were killed in so-called 'crossfire' by Rab and police, the report said.

According to the report, 21265 people were injured and 2358 arrested due to political violence last year. Besides, 28651 people were the victims of mass arrest.

Odhikar said political abduction however decreased by 48 percent last year. Forty-eight people were abducted in 2006 while the number of people kidnapped in 2005 was 93.

The report also observed that the percentage of general killing and crossfire killing decreased in 2006 by 10 percent compared to that of 2005.

In 2006, one journalist was killed, 183 were injured, six arrested and 53 others assaulted. Besides, cases were filled against 111 journalists. In 2005, two journalists were killed, 142 injured, 11 arrested while four abducted.

According to Odhikar, 412 women and 227 children were raped last year. Of them, 126 were killed and 13 committed suicide after violation. Three were raped by the law enforcement agencies. In 2005, 588 women and 319 children were raped.

The report also showed that 320 women were the victims of dowry- related crimes in 2006. Of them, 243 were killed, 64 tortured, five were the victims of acid attacks and eight committed for dowry. The number of dowry victims was 382 in 2005.

Odhikar report also revealed that 161 people were the victims of acid attacks across the country in 2006 while the number of acid victims was 196 in 2005.

From January 1 to December 31 in 2006, around 1043 children were the victims of human rights violations. Of them 366 were killed, 139 injured, 227 raped, 93 abducted, 12 arrested and 20 were the victims of acid throwing. In 2005, 1139 children were victims of human rights violation.

In Chittagong Hill Tracts, 29 people were killed, 361 injured, 22 kidnapped, three women raped and 42 others arrested in different incidents of human rights violations in 2006. The number of killing was 25 in 2005.

Along the Bangladesh-India border, 147 people were killed in 2006 while 104 people killed in 2005.

"Upon analysing the report it is construed that all violence other than political, border and Chittagong Hill Tracts, decreased comparatively in 2006," said Odhikar.