A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has started investigation into the alleged police encounter in which all four accused in the rape and murder of a young veterinarian were killed in Telangana. The killing has raised serious concern over the conduct of the Telangana police. There is no doubt that the crime against the young veterinarian was horrific and the accused deserved the strongest punishment under the law. However, this kind of extrajudicial killing is against the set law and sends out a very wrong message to the society.
Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, came out in public and denounced the killing by stating that justice can never be instant and loses its character when it becomes revenge. However, he also admitted that the recent events in the country have sparked off an old debate with new vigour where there is no doubt that the criminal justice system must reconsider its position and attitude towards the time it takes to dispose of cases. The decision of the NHRC to initiate the probe is a very good move. The police cannot wash their hands of their responsibility by claiming that the four accused were killed after they tried to flee by attacking the cops. The story narrated by the Telangana police is very suspicious. The NHRC should punish the police officials if any foul play is detected. A democratic country like India cannot function like a banana republic. There are laws to punish criminals, and everyone should let the law take its own course of action.