Extra-judicial killings fall by 27.1pc in last 6 months
Says Odhikar report
Staff Correspondent
The number of extra-judicial killings has fallen by 27.1 percent during the first six months of the current year in comparison to the number of the corresponding period of previous year, says a press release of a human rights organisation. Odhikar said a total of 121 people were killed reportedly by the law enforcement agencies since January 1, 2007 while this number was 166 during the same period of 2006. However, at least one people is falling victim to extra-judicial killing in every 36 hours, the report added. Of the dead, 78 people were killed in incidents of 'crossfire' while 23 were tortured to death. Odhikar called upon the caretaker government to set up an independent judicial probe into the deaths and punishment to persons responsible for the killings. In another press release, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) said a total of 69 people were killed in 'encounter or crossfire' with Rapid Action Battalion in the last six months across the country, A total of 298 women were raped during the same period and 40 of them were killed after rape. Four of the victims committed suicide, the press release added. Some 159 women also fell victim to dowry, and 90 were killed for being unable to pay dowry. Besides, 53 women fell victim to acid attack during the period, said the press release prepared on the basis of newspaper stories.
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