THE recent shooting of gangster Vikas Dubey by the UP Police, a day after he had dramatically surrendered in Ujjain, has once again brought the issue of extrajudicial killings by police in India to the fore. Several disturbing questions have been raised about the police story and, in the absence of convincing answers, there are reasons to believe that it was yet another case of extrajudicial killing. The story in almost all such cases remains the same, that the accused tried to flee or fired at the police, and had to be killed. In December 2019, all the four accused in the kidnapping, rape and murder of a young woman ‘Disha’ were killed by the police in Hyderabad. To make it look like a case of having dispensed poetic justice, they were killed at exactly the same place where they had committed the horrible crime.
The disturbing thing is that a large number of people strongly approve of meting out instant justice. In the Disha case, slogans were shouted praising police and flowers were showered upon them. In other cases also, there have been a barrage of congratulatory messages on social media. Most of such people claim that they are exasperated by our judicial process being very slow and the chances of the accused getting acquittal being rather high.
This story is from the July 27, 2020 Vol.ll edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 27, 2020 Vol.ll edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Muslim Question
In the time of polarisation politics and othering, how to respond to the banality of hate?
Voters' Cold Wave
Heat wave, voter apathy and cyclic migration are blamed for the poor voter turnout in Bihar. Political parties are clueless about what impact will it have on election results
Occupy Ivy League
Students protesting in American universities are asking the US government to rethink its policy towards Israel
Left Side Story
Personal attacks, lower voter turnout and the BJP’s determined campaigning: how has Kerala voted this time?
Across the Pir Panjals
The newly carved-out constituency of Anantnag-Rajouri is set to witness a very close contest
Gashes in the Red Sand
Residents of the tribal district of Gadchiroli resist development models that destroy the environment
When Taps and Hope Run Dry
Peaking water scarcity and pervasive groundwater contamination have increased migration from many districts of Rajasthan.
Pilgrim's Politics
Two-time MP from Varanasi, Narendra Modi, is sculpting the eternal city in his image
Under The Model Town
Muslim ghettos in Ahmedabad are dilapidated and neglected
The Master Strategist
The Assam chief minister enjoys popularity both as an administrator and a politician despite his relentless anti-Muslim rhetoric