A/HRC/8/26 Page 11 3 persons died and 25 were injured. The clashes led to the damage of private and public property. The situation was brought under control. One hundred and twenty-five cases have been registered and 173 persons have been arrested. The state Government has also ordered judicial probe to inquire into the incident. Further, 284 Peace Committees have been formed which have held 350 meetings so far. The State government has announced a rehabilitation package to those whose houses have been damaged and ex gratia of Rs. 100,000 to the next kin of the three deceased. The Prime Minister assured Christian delegations that the Government would take all steps to provide full security and protect the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution to all citizens and that it would not tolerate any efforts aimed at disturbing the communal harmony or secular fabric of the country. 50. The Republic of Korea welcomed efforts by India to promote and protect indigenous and tribal peoples’ rights. It asked for further elaboration on plans to protect these rights in newly industrialized zones. The Republic of Korea asked for more information on section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973 regarding the impunity of civil servants. It also asked about the position of India regarding the recommendations of CEDAW, particularly in relation to the situation of Dalit women. 51. Mexico congratulated India on its progress in the area of human rights and indicated that many countries could share in recognizing the challenges facing India and spoke of its admiration of India’s democratic and humanist traditions. With reference to the development of a national action plan for human rights and of targets and indicators for assessment purposes, Mexico suggested, in that regard, that India view positively the recommendations made by the treaty bodies and special procedures particularly with respect to the situation of women and children. It also appreciated measures being adopted with a view to ratifying the Convention against Torture and recommended that India also make progress towards the ratification of that instrument. Lastly, Mexico stated that it was interested to learn more about the plan of action for human rights education in India. 52. Nigeria applauded India’s policy to strike a balance between a human rights agenda and development issues. It recommended that India should take the necessary steps towards ratifying the international human rights instruments it had signed, including the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Protection of Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Nigeria also noted that as India had really leapfrogged into the elite community of developed societies in terms of economic improvement it would like to see such improvement touch on a great number of Indians that are under the poverty line. 53. Italy asked for additional information on (a) human rights education relating to traditional practices and customs and scheduled castes and tribes and (b) the National Child Labour Project. Italy recommended the strengthening of human rights education specifically in order to address effectively the phenomenon of gender-based and caste-based discrimination. It also recommended that steps be taken towards the ratification of the Convention against Torture. 54. Latvia noted India’s positive cooperation with the special procedures and stated that it would like India to consider extending a standing invitation to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council. 55. Venezuela stated that it valued the efforts made by India to promote and protect human rights. Venezuela emphasized that it attached, like India, particular importance to matters related to health and referred to the health insurance scheme for workers in the informal sector, which was referred to in India’s report. Venezuela emphasized that this issue is also under discussion in Venezuela and