Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of India about the arrest on 28 August of five Indian Dalit human rights activists during simultaneous police raids conducted in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Faridabad, Pune, Ranchi, and Goa.

​Any allegation of human rights abuse is of conern and the FCO believe must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. The Government remains committed to promoting and defending human rights and we expect all countries to comply with their international legal obligations in this regard.

We have not raised this particular case with the Government of India, but we do raise concerns more broadly where necessary. The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions continue to monitor the human rights situation in India and work with civil society on projects that protect and promote human rights. For example, our officials in India helped create the first ever network of Dalit Women Human Rights Defenders trained as paralegals.