Hyderabad police gun down four vet-doctor rape accused in ground zero encounter; nation divided on 'instant justice'

The encounter took place between 3 am and 6 am in Chatnapally where the body of Priyanka, who was also charred by the accused after murdering, was found.

The sources said the accused hurled stones on police and reportedly snatched the weapons from them and started firing on the them, forcing them to gun them down.

Sources quoted police saying in self-defence, they shot dead all the four accused--Mohammed Areef, Jollu Shiva, Naveen, Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu.

However, an official statement from police is yet to be published.

Divided reactions to the encounter

Though common people showered rose petals on policemen, 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, adding that it is not yet proved that the four killed in the encounter were real rapists.

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."

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, however, 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 undermined."

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."

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?"

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?" 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Common people are celebrating the encounter. It is worrying to see people have lost faith in the criminal justice system. We will have to work towards bringing back faith in the criminal justice system."

Parliament rocked by encounter killing

Lok Sabha members clashed vociferously on Friday over the issue of unprecedented police encounter killing of four alleged rapists in Hyderabad and burning of 'Unnao rape victim', added UNI.

The issue was first raised during Zero Hour by Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who said, "While on one side a grand Ram temple is being constructed, on the other hand 'Sita' (symbol of womanhood) was being burnt alive".

This angered several BJP members and as his speech was cut short the Congress members staged a brief walkout.

New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi (BJP) justified the police action of Hyderabad cops against the alleged rape accused who were reportedly trying to flee the spot.

The trouble was sparked off when Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani was up on her feet and ridiculed the observation from Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy on the incident in Unnao in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh.

The Minister alleged that in Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal during the panchayat elections in 2018, the rape against women were repeatedly used as "political weapon".

"You kept silent on Malda...," she remarked, referring to another similar incident.
 
She asserted that the crime against women either in Bengal or Unnao could not be defened as these were heinous offence and should not be politicised.

How the horrific rape incident occurred?

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 took her to a scrubland in a deserted spot and and gang-raped her, before strangling her. They then burnt her body to destroy evidence, according to police.

(Image Credit: UNI)