SOUTH ASIA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

2233three Border Security Force members were injured when their bus struck a landmineplanted by militants near Khooni Nala village. On October 20, two soldierswere killed in Udhampur district when militants detonated an improvised explosivedevice that they had strapped to a mule and sent into the army camp. On November28, shortly after the beginning of the Government’s unilateral ceasefire for the holymonth of Ramadan, a landmine blew up an army truck, killing 3 soldiers andwounding 12 others; Hizbul Mujaheddin claimed responsibility. On December 5, alandmine explosion in the Adipora area of Baramulla district injured three soldiers.Extremist and terrorist activities in the northeast claimed many lives. In additionto ambushes, terrorists increasingly resorted to destroying bridges, and the layingtime bombs on roads, on railway tracks, and in trains. On February 27, Assam Ministerfor Public Works and Forests Nagen Sharma and four others were killed whensuspected ULFA militants detonated an explosive device as the minister’s vehiclepassed a near NijBahjani, Nalbari district. On March 5, suspected ULFA militantsattempted to kill a second Assam minister, Hiranya Konwar. They detonated an improvisedexplosive device as the minister’s car neared Rongali Doegarh, Sivasagardistrict; no persons were injured in the attack. On May 20, 5 persons were killedand 11 others were injured when militants threw a hand grenade into a passingjeep at Manikerbasti, west Tripura. Also on May 20, UBLF militants lobbed bombsat a passenger jeep from north Maharanipur in Khowai, killing 5 tribals and injuring11 others. On May 21, 15 persons were killed when suspected NLFT militantsthrew hand grenades at Bengali villagers in Baghber village, Tripura. The militantsthen attacked villagers with machetes and set fire to 60 homes in the village. OnOctober 23, suspected ULFA militants killed 15 persons and wounded 8 others in2 separate attacks. The first occurred in the Kakogam Market, Tinsukia district,where militants fired automatic guns at civilians, killing 11 persons. The second attackoccured at Naoholia, Dibrugarh district where militants indiscriminately firedat civilians, killing four persons and injured five others.On February 12, a Naxalite mine blast killed 21 persons in Bihar (see Section 5).On March 7, Naxalites killed Andhra Pradesh minister for local government A.Madhava Reddy in a landmine explosion near Hyderabad. Reddy was returningfrom a political rally. As home minister in the state from 1994–95, Reddy had overseenanti-Naxalite operations. In a letter to the PUCL, G.N. Saibaba, general secretaryof the All India People’s Resistance Forum; Varavara Rao, executive memberof the Revolutionary Writers Association; and Gadar, general secretary of the AllIndia League for Revolutionary Culture alleged that police had summarily executedthree unarmed members of CPI(M) on February 1. The three writers alleged thatpolice detained the three victims—Kumar, Sujanta and Venkanna—in the Musmivillage, Warangal district. The PUCL alleges that police killed five women in anApril 27 encounter in the Chandragiri Hills, Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh. Accordingto the human rights organization, police surrounded the women and lobbedhand grenades at them, killing them.During the year, police arrested numerous persons suspected of involvement inprevious terrorist attacks and brought charges against some suspects. Charges alsowere brought against persons accused of involvement with human suicide bomb attacksto advance Sikh separatism, as well as against dozens of captured separatistinsurgents in Jammu and Kashmir for bombings, killings, and acts of sabotage.Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:a. Freedom of Speech and Press.—The Constitution provides for freedom of speechand of the press, and the Government generally respects these rights in practice;however, there are some limitations. A vigorous and growing press reflects a widevariety of political, social, and economic beliefs. Newspapers and magazines regularlypublish investigative reports and allegations of government wrongdoing, andthe press generally promotes human rights and criticizes perceived governmentlapses.Under the Official Secrets Act, the Government may restrict publication of sensitivestories; however, while the Government at times interprets this power broadlyto suppress criticism of its policies, the Government nonetheless introduced a rightto information bill in the 2000 Monsoon Session of Parliament. However, during theyear the bill lapsed; it must be reintroduced if Parliament is to take any furtheraction on it.The 1971 Newspapers Incitements to Offenses Act remains in effect in Jammuand Kashmir. Under the act, a district magistrate may prohibit the press from publishingmaterial resulting in incitement to murder or any act of violence. As punishmentthe act stipulates that the authorities may seize newspapers and printingpresses. Despite these restrictions, newspapers in Srinagar, the capital of Jammuand Kashmir, report in detail on alleged human rights abuses by the Government,VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:46 Sep 20, 2001 Jkt 071555 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 F:\WORK\COUNTRYR\S71555\71555.035 HINTREL1 PsN: HINTREL1