Twitterati, politicians, activists divided over Hyderabad Police encounter killing vet rape-murder accused

While several are celebrating and happy over the Hyderabad Police's encounter, many are contemplating whether the way is justifiable or not.

Author Shefali Vaidya tweeted, "A father in Kerala had to kill the rapist and murderer of his 13 year old daughter, coz a Kerala court let the rapist out on bail. The ‘juvenile’ in the #Nirbhaya case is a free man with a sewing machine. In such a situation, how can one NOT be happy with the #encounter?"

However, noted lawyer and human rights activist Vrinda Grover said police encounter in the name of women is unacceptable.

Calling it trigger track justice, Grover told IBNS: "This is absolutely unacceptable. So all that the state will do in the name of ensuring that women live as equal and free citizens is to add to its arsenal of unlimited arbitrary violence!"

"Supreme Court of India has directed that in every encounter case - There must be an FIR registered against the police and an investigation;  and an independent judicial enquiry into this “encounter’. No Investigation, no Prosecution, these killings distract the public and save the police and state from any accountability," she said.

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said what happened in Hyderabad is not right as "what is the need for courts if you kill people without legal process." "They would anyway have been hanged. But killing them like this is not a solution to tardy justice system."

One Sidhu Jot said in a tweet, "This action was necessary for some people of india who always think that they can do anything with women or girls into india."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rajyavardhan Rathore tweeted, "I congratulate the hyderabad police and the leadership that allows the police to act like police Let all know this is the country where good will always prevail over evil (Disclaimer for holier than thou- police acted swiftly in self defence)"

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha tweeted, "Congratulations on becoming a banana republic!"

BJP leader Lalitha Kumaramangalam said, "You can't have free justice like this in the country. It seemed this looks like a cover up by police for brownie points. If this is not proper encounter then the entire justice system is violated."

Writer and photographer Sanjukta Basu tweeted, "Shocking. What have we become? What proof was there that these were real culprits? Do we have information on investigation and evidence which prove crime beyond doubt? They perhaps didn't even have a lawyer, didn't get a hearing. Killed in #Encounter and we are celebrating?"

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, who is in favour of lynching of rapists, supported the encounter and said, "It is too late but a right step."

Political trend watcher Tehseen Poonawalla tweeted, "Questions on the #EncounterNight : Did all 4 accused snatch weapons? All 4 tried to escape? Why not shoot their hands/legs? Was the pistol not attached to the cops? Were 4 guns snatched? Were these accused trained in shooting that they could open the locks of the gun?"

How the encounter took place?

Amid nationwide protests and clamour for instant justice, the police on Friday said that all the four accused in the Hyderabad veterinary doctor's gang-rape and murder case were killed in an encounter at Chatanpally in Shadnagar here early on Friday.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar while confirming the encounter told UNI it happened between 3 am and 6 am. 

Police sources told the news agency the accused tried to flee when they were taken to Chatnapally where the charred body of Priyanka Reddy- the dead victim- was found, to reconstruct the scene of the crime.

The sources said the accused hurled stones on police and reportedly snatched the weapons from the police and started firing on the them.

In the self-defence, police shot dead all the four accused--Mohammed Areef, Jollu Shiva, Naveen, Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu. 

The encounter took place close to the spot where the accused allegedly torched the body of Priyanka after raping her.

Top police officials were at the encounter spot when the story was filed.

The gruesome gangrape and murder case had sparked nation-wide protests as the people came out to the streets to demand justice for the victim.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Jaya Bachchan was one of the parliamentarians who had said "rapists must be brought out in public and lynched".

On Nov 28, the men, lorry drivers and cleaners, saw the woman park her scooter near a toll-booth. They allegedly punctured a tyre of the scooter and waited the return of the victim.

When she returned, they pretended to help her, forcibly taken her and gang-raped at a deserted spot, strangled her and burnt her body to destroy evidence, according to police.

(Images: UNI)