India, Oct. 21 -- India said that human rights must not be used to exert political pressure or selectively target countries, after more than 20 UN human rights experts in Geneva expressed alarm over what they called a "repeatedly heavy-handed police response" to youth-led protests in the national capital.

Barkha Tamrakar, deputy secretary in the ministry of external affairs, made the statement on India's behalf at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee on Tuesday. She was speaking during a discussion on the agenda item concerning the 'Working Group on Enforced Disappearances'.

Delivering the remarks, Tamrakar pointed out the constitutional and institutional safeguards in place in India to address allegations of human rights violation...