ENCOUNTERS BY POLICE: ANALYSING ITS RELEVANCE IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES
By Ragini Kanungo
There is no provision under Indian statutes which empowers police to kill an accused. The only right available to police officials is that of self-defence, as a consequence of which an alleged criminal (accused) is shot dead. In common parlance this is known as ‘encounter’. Such encounters have always been at the centre of controversies in India for all wrong and at times right reasons. Encounters by police are often termed as ‘fake’ and are criticised for violating human rights. On the other hand, police officials have maintained their stance on encounters, as being an act in the exercise of self-defence. The delay caused in judicial process resulting in justice hanging over the sword of time, has led us to a day where encounters, are seen as an alternative to justice by the judicial system. In light of these developments, this paper analyses the validity and morality of encounters by police.
Keywords: Encounter, Fake, Human Rights, Justice, Police, Self-defence.
©2020- Lex Humanitariae: Journal for a Change