The National Institute of Human Rights in Chile (INDH) issued a report in which it confirms receiving cases of possible torture at the hands of the authorities during the protests in Chile. 

Protests began against public transport fare hikes but have quickly turned into an uprising against President Piñera’s neoliberal policies. 

The INDH said to have registered these kind of abuses: "Torture, being forced to undress, shooting of civilians, physical, verbal abuse, beatings, ‘delays’ in driving detainees to police stations, keeping them in the vans with poor ventilation and overcrowding for hours on end."

The NGO also published what they believe to be the causes of the 15 deaths in the protests so far. These deaths were, according to the INDH, the result of shots fired by soldiers, blows to the skull and thorax and for being hit by military vehicles.

There have even been evidence of sexual abuse against arrested protesters. "Two of the complaints are about acts of sexual violence against women in police stations. - said the report - A woman told us she has been put on the floor on top of trash. She was threatened with being shot if she moved and had her body touched with a rifle. She was also threatened with penetration with the gun."

Another woman, said the report, "denounced being completely undressed by police, forced to squat, insulted and threatened with sexual violence."

The popular movement against Piñera’s neoliberal government has grown stronger following the beginning of a 48 hours general strike called by the Chilean labor union federation (CUT).