Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of reports of extrajudicial killings of religious minorities in Punjab, India.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is aware of reports concerning extrajudicial killings in the Punjab region and continues to monitor the human rights situation closely. The UK Government remains committed to promoting human rights globally, including the right to life and access to justice. Where credible concerns arise, we raise these directly with the Government of India, both through our High Commission in New Delhi and at ministerial level. We also support civil society organisations working to uphold human rights and the rule of law in India. The UK encourages all states to ensure accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices.