Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Fake encounters

This refers to the article "From Shah Bano then to Kausarbi now" (May 9) on the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausarbi allegedly in a fake police encounter. The so-called "encounter specialists" are creatures of the perverted system in which the importance of politicians is proportional to the perceived threat to their lives upon which the security of the nation is presumed to depend. Gone are the days when politicians did not feel threatened amid their own people. The Kausarbis are paying the price for the perversion in the security perception of the nation and its leaders.

S.G. Vombatkere,
Mysore

The article is a good analysis of how fake encounters have evolved as a weapon in the coercive armoury of the Indian state over the years. The legitimacy of the state is bound to erode further unless ways are found to curb the criminalisation of politics. But it is the same system that throws up checks in the form of individuals with exemplary courage and commitment as exemplified by Geetha Johri.

Manohar Alembath,
Chennai

Fake encounters are not unique to Gujarat and the BJP. Governments of almost all States use them to bump off inconvenient people. It is just that the Gujarat case has come to light. Unless the people, administration, and the police imbibe ethical values, such practices will continue in one form or the other.

G.M. Rama Rao,
Visakhapatnam

An entire organisation cannot be blamed for the actions of some individuals. In a particularly disturbed area, a policeman may not have the time to verify whether a suspect is a potential security threat or not. Such verification may cost him his life.

The murder of Kausarbi was no doubt heinous. But it does not justify the criticism of the entire system.

Nitish Raj,
Chennai

Encounters are nothing new. They have taken place in the past and will take place in future too. Of course, the present case provides the stick to hit Narendra Modi with. Even if the accused police officers are proved guilty, I do not think the murder of the Sheikhs reflects badly on Mr. Modi as Chief Minister. If it did, no Chief Minister in any State can stay in office.

V.R. Janardhanam,
Chennai

The need of the hour is to implement the reforms recommended by the National Police Commission. But political parties are not serious about implementing them because they do not want to give up their power to appoint and transfer police officers.

Satish R. Murdeshwar,
Pune

The Modi Government's witch-hunt against Muslims is well known. Every now and then, we hear that the lives of innocent citizens have been lost in encounters. The latest revelation also exposes the callousness of the Centre that wants the minorities to have the first claim to the national resources, but cannot guarantee them the right to life.

The UPA Government imposed President's Rule in Bihar but strangely does not feel it is necessary to do so in Gujarat where it is desperately needed.

Shashikant Singh,
Roorkee

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