Washington: Militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir are committing atrocities against Hindus, the US State Department's annual report on International Religious Freedom has said, while charging the Indian leadership with "institutionalising" Hindutva and "using" it for political purposes.

Noting that Jammu and Kashmir was the focus of violence, the report said militants have carried out several execution-style mass killings of Hindu villagers and violently targeted Kashmiri Pandits in an attempt to force Hindus to emigrate.

Mass killings in Kashmir, targeted against the Sikh community, increased fears that this remainder of Kashmir's minorities may be forced to leave, it said, pointing out that there was an exodus of many from the Sikh community, particularly of the young, during 2001.

The report also said, "Custodial killings of suspected militants, all of whom are Muslims are common."

The report, authored by Ambassador at Large John V Hanford accused the Indian leadership of "fomenting" 'hindutva' and "using" it for political purposes.

"We also see various States in India passing anti-conversion laws and taking very strict measures that can end up restricting very basic religious freedom and, indeed, freedom to determine one's own faith," the report said.

The review says that though the status of religious freedom improved in some ways, it worsened in others during the period.

PTI