The word 'encounter' in the context of security forces bumping into suspects has become a euphemism for the act of cold blooded spot-executions in India. These 'encounters' are an indictment for the ineptness of the Indian judicial system, thus causing the state to create extra-legal death squads to maintain some semblance of law and order.
The rule of law does not allow for the confluence of the roles of law enforcement, judiciary and executioner but we are witness to this mix in every stage-managed 'encounter' killing. The law enforcement authorities' reaction to an incident of acid attack on college girls in 2008 resulting in the Warangal police concluding the case through the encounter route is a perfect example of how the society provokes, condones and colludes in the state's blood lust. The galleries applauded and there were queues to congratulate the police officials. Jurisprudence was trumped by jingoism.
Recently though the reaction to the killing of a top rung Maoist leader Azad in Andhra Pradesh and the investigation into the Sohrabuddin Sheik encounter case ordered by the Supreme Court have turned the tide and led to greater scrutiny of the methods used by the police forces. Some would claim the brutal nature of these acts is at the root of the concept of state and its coercive source of power, even in a democracy. These incidents stick out as the spots missed while painting a picture of a 'government for the people', thus revealing the true nature of the state.
All this while, the victims/suspects remain in the firing line as the philosophical discussions continue in televisions studios, newspaper columns, legislatures and courts. Since creating public opinion takes time, for immediate survival the hunted need to think fast and use any and all resources at their disposal. In this regard, the story of Sarvan Kumar in the news today catches the eye.
Sarvan Kumar, a wanted man reportedly got cornered by the security forces in Delhi yesterday and the stage was set for a classic 'encounter', except Sarvan had one last trick up his sleeve. Sarvan simply dialed 100 - the emergency services number and told them the nature of his emergency thus saving his own skin. Just as the state adapts to deal with the law-breakers' ways, the law breakers adapt to the state by studying and circumvent its methods and systems.
Links:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20100827271702100.htm
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/gangster-dialed-100-to-escape-encounter-44923?pfrom=Cities
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohrabuddin_Sheikh_fake_encounter
The rule of law does not allow for the confluence of the roles of law enforcement, judiciary and executioner but we are witness to this mix in every stage-managed 'encounter' killing. The law enforcement authorities' reaction to an incident of acid attack on college girls in 2008 resulting in the Warangal police concluding the case through the encounter route is a perfect example of how the society provokes, condones and colludes in the state's blood lust. The galleries applauded and there were queues to congratulate the police officials. Jurisprudence was trumped by jingoism.
Recently though the reaction to the killing of a top rung Maoist leader Azad in Andhra Pradesh and the investigation into the Sohrabuddin Sheik encounter case ordered by the Supreme Court have turned the tide and led to greater scrutiny of the methods used by the police forces. Some would claim the brutal nature of these acts is at the root of the concept of state and its coercive source of power, even in a democracy. These incidents stick out as the spots missed while painting a picture of a 'government for the people', thus revealing the true nature of the state.
All this while, the victims/suspects remain in the firing line as the philosophical discussions continue in televisions studios, newspaper columns, legislatures and courts. Since creating public opinion takes time, for immediate survival the hunted need to think fast and use any and all resources at their disposal. In this regard, the story of Sarvan Kumar in the news today catches the eye.
Sarvan Kumar, a wanted man reportedly got cornered by the security forces in Delhi yesterday and the stage was set for a classic 'encounter', except Sarvan had one last trick up his sleeve. Sarvan simply dialed 100 - the emergency services number and told them the nature of his emergency thus saving his own skin. Just as the state adapts to deal with the law-breakers' ways, the law breakers adapt to the state by studying and circumvent its methods and systems.
Links:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/stories/20100827271702100.htm
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/gangster-dialed-100-to-escape-encounter-44923?pfrom=Cities
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohrabuddin_Sheikh_fake_encounter
