E/CN.4/1995/34 page 72 376. Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, editor of the Assamese weekly Saadin, a coordinator of the Human Rights Struggle Committee and a founding member of the Assam Union of Working Journalists, was reportedly arrested on 5 July 1994 at his home in Guwahati, Assam, and taken to Chandmari police station. After being held for several hours he was said to have been moved to an undisclosed location for interrogation (7 July 1994). 377. On 19 August 1994 the Government replied that Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, arrested on charges relating to a kidnapping plot, had been remanded to police custody for 26 days on the day of his arrest by order of the magistrate. He had not been subjected to any inhuman treatment. Assurance was given that he would be treated properly during his period of detention. 378. Mohammad Shafi, a journalist based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, was being held in Papa II interrogation centre by the Border Security Force (BSF). He was arrested on 7 December 1994 with Mukhtar Ahmed, correspondent with the Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom. Mukhtar Ahmed had allegedly been punched, kicked and threatened by members of the BSF before being released (9 December 1994). Observations 379. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the regular responses of the Government; however, they do not cover all the cases transmitted to them. He is also aware that India has a highly developed legal system with a reputation for vigorous independence. This has certainly contributed to the fact that many of the cases referred to in this and previous reports has led to some action by way of formal inquiry and disciplinary measures. At the same time, it is apparent that few incidents, in what is credibly alleged to be a widespread, if not endemic phenomenon, are prosecuted and even fewer lead to conviction of the perpetrators. It is also to be noted that very many cases that come to the attention of the Special Rapporteur are those that result in death, in other words, those where torture may have been applied with the most extreme results. This must be a minority of the cases of torture in the country. 380. Over the two years of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur has been in contact with the Government, through its Permanent Mission in Geneva, with a view to obtaining an invitation to visit the country. Those contacts initially seemed promising, but the Special Rapporteur was eventually told that a visit would not be opportune. The Special Rapporteur continues to believe that the situation would justify a visit by him. Indonesia Information transmitted to the Government 381. By letter dated 4 July 1994 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had continued to receive reports indicating that the practice of torture and other ill-treatment was routine in Indonesia, both with respect to those persons detained for political reasons and those accused of criminal offences. Methods of torture were said to include beatings, blindfolding,