Sanjiv Krishan Sood: It Is the Need of the Hour To Understand Police Brutality in India and Take Action

By Dilip -

The police all over the country is increasingly brutal in their approach towards common people. Flouting law rather than protecting the rule of law is becoming the norm. When the chief minister of a state says “thok diya jayega” (will be shot), it is an open call to the police to ignore rule of law in dealing with the public. Even criminals are entitled to due process of law

It Is the Need of the Hour To Understand Police Brutality in India and Take Action

What happened in Sipajhar town of Darrang district, Assam on September 22 is shameful, to say the least, and reflective of the unprofessional conduct of police in dealing with a routine law and order situation. The horrific conduct of the photographer employed with the district administration jumping on the individual fallen on the ground after being shot has been commented upon by all and sundry. However, what appears to have been missed or deliberately ignored by almost everyone is the act of a policeman mercilessly hitting the fallen person with sticks.

This behaviour is not only unlawful and abhorrent in the instant case. The police apparently used disproportionate force in the incident. The video indeed appears to indicate that the deceased was moving aggressively towards the police with a danda (baton) in hand. However, he was alone and should have been controlled with lesser force by the posse of police personnel present there. Use of firearms and that too, a shot at the chest was without doubt much more than what the situation warranted. Police resorting to brutal force has become a routine. ..

https://thewire.in/government/it-is-the-need-of-the-hour-to-understand-police-brutality-in-india-and-take-action


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