Citing the controversy over the Batla House encounter, PM Manmohan Singh on November 23 said most of the criticism of cops was motivated but emphasised the need for them to reach out to religious and ethnic minorities. Addressing a gathering of the country’s top police officers at a conference of DGPs, Singh said, “Today, aspersions are being made regarding police impartiality and capabilities, and while I recognise that much of this is motivated, you must face up to the reality that many are convinced that the police is less than fair. This is so even when policemen die in the line of duty.”
The PM also asked the police to have a proper understanding of the complex forces that are at work in India. He said, “You will come under attack from those sections of society which are determined to undermine India’s liberal ethos, but this challenge has to be met and met effectively.”
Though the PM didn’t specifically refer to the Batla House shootout, there were absolutely no doubts as to what was the trigger for his statement. The remarks reflect a recognition on the government’s part of the attack that counter-terror agencies have drawn over actions against accused – like in the Batla House case and, more recently, in the Malegaon blast case.