In India, beaten US journalist becomes focus of police torture probe

Mr. Chakma, the report author, commended the government for taking the step, given the timing. But he and other human rights activists criticize the secrecy surrounding the new bill and they worry that flaws in an older version of the bill from 2008 will not be addressed. Specifically, the old bill left bureaucrats with the power to veto judicial inquiries into torture cases. The 2008 bill also put the burden of proof on victims' families, rather than on the police, in disputed cases of deaths in custody.

There are also major exemptions under laws aimed at crushing insurgencies in places like Kashmir and the northeast. "In all areas where torture is endemic there is blanket immunity and exemptions under law," says Ravi Nair, head of the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center in Delhi.

Such loopholes are problems internationally, too, he says, pointing to China, which has signed and ratified the convention.

"The whole international antitorture regime has weakened over the last 15 years, and especially since 9/11," says Mr. Nair. "In every single interaction with apologists of the state in conferences and seminars, what is thrown against us is 'see what the US is doing' " – referring to the American use of torture in the war on terror.

He argues that more than any change in laws, cultural acceptance for torture must change. For this reason, he argues that Elliott's case is significant.

Elliott's case

According to Elliott, his troubles began when he rounded a dark street corner and found four or more uniformed policemen beating someone. He cried out in shock, and that started a heated exchange that turned violent when a policeman hit him with a baton, started to wind up again, and then Elliott punched him in the jaw. Elliott says he fled in fear and tried to hide in a parked taxi. A bystander thought he meant to steal the taxi and shouted to the pursuing police.

Elliott has been charged with attempted theft of the taxi and destruction of property. Police say he smashed the taxi window. Elliott denies attempting to steal the taxi or smashing the window. He was not certain police had pressed those charges until contacted by the Monitor.

When asked about how the case was handled, local officials referred the Monitor to higher-level police officials. One phone number did not work. The other was answered by an official who said the case had moved to another department and that he would call back later that evening with a number. He did not, nor could he be reached again.

Local police inspector Suresh Kaushik says, however, that Elliott was never formally arrested, just detained, so it was unnecessary to call the US Embassy.

"There are different definitions of torture," says Mr. Kaushik. He doesn't see how this case is relevant to the debate: "He was neither a suspect nor brought to the police station for interrogations. It was a public brawl and he was brought to hospital."

'Sensible citizens' don't question policemen

In questioning the policemen's actions that night in October, Elliott appears to have crossed a cultural line.

"The fact is that he attempted to question the policeman," says Nair. "In India, any sensible citizen does not question a policeman. The minute you do, the wrath of state comes upon you. He, being an American, didn't understand the unwritten civil contract that all Indians understand."

Elliott concurs, and also sees how his case can highlight the wider problem.

"Several Indian friends told me they had similar experiences with police in New Delhi. But nobody heard their stories. People only heard my story because I was an American journalist," Elliott wrote in an e-mail.

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