As no law provides for encounter killing of any suspect ,the operation- encounter by Delhi Police on 19th September 08 at Batla House, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi which claimed lives of two citizens and a police officer needs to be inquired into. Even if the police has the required evidence to prove that those killed were involved in recent bomb blasts, a time bound credible inquiry by a team of sitting judges with diverse social composition must be demanded to establish the sequence and exact circumstances in which firearms were used by the Police and by any of the suspects.
We are all aware of far too many cases of false encounter killings, even targeted killings of innocent citizens, especially Muslims, by the police with hate motive in the past four decades, some of which like the Hashimpura case of killings of more than 40 Muslims in 1987 and of incidents of targeted killing of Muslims in Aligarh during the course of riots in 1978 and 1990 were inquired into by the PUCL team (the latter headed by Justice V.M. Tarkunde-Justice Rajinder Sachar).
One such inquiry was instituted by the PUCL Delhi headed by Justice R.B Mehrotra into the brutal operation-revenge against Muslim Hostlers of Jamia Millia Islamia in April 2000, which severely indicted the police for communal hate motive calling the Muslim students ‘Pakistanis’ and ‘ISI agents’. I suggest that an inquiry team may be constituted to prepare a factual report on all aspects of the incident as soon as possible. This step by the PUCL will help restore the confidence of the Muslim community, which has been declared guilty by the media trial in far more offensive manner than the Arushi case.
The terms of reference of inquiry may also include how the media, especially electronic has spread news and views related to the cases of bomb blasts at Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi, disregarding all norms of objectivity and reputation of individuals, families and the community.
In this regard the enclosed Note signed by reputed persons and representatives of organizations deserves our attention.
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