Caracas---At least 189 people died in extrajudicial executions last year in Venezuela at the hands of security forces, a human rights group said Tuesday.
Another 31 died from torture or excessive force by police or the military, including five during demonstrations against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, according to PROVEA.
Of the 189 summary executions, most came during police or military raids aimed at arresting a large number of people, said PROVEA researcher Inti Rodriguez. The group has monitored human rights in Venezuela since 1988.
The figure marks a five percent increase compared to the cases documented by PROVEA in 2013.
The biggest increase in extrajudicial killings came during early morning raids by a police investigative unit called the CICPC.
These are aimed at "hunting down suspected criminals and meting out justice," Rodriguez said.
The CICPC is responsible for probing violent deaths in Venezuela. Three of the victims were under age 12 and 25 were adolescents.
Of the total of 189 deaths, no one was ever punished, PROVEA added.
In a presentation of its annual report, the NGO said another 31 people died at the hands of people in uniform: 15 from indiscriminate use of force, eight from excessive use of force, four from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and four from negligence.
Of the 31, five died during protest rallies against the government of Maduro that lasted from February to May, Rodriguez said. Violence in the demonstrations left a total of 43 dead.
The research is based on complaints filed with the courts or by relatives of the victims.
Venezuela is considered the world's most violent country after Honduras, with a yearly average of 82 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, according to another local rights group.
AFP
