By TCN News,
New Delhi: Popular front of India has expressed shock over the recent disclosure by the Home Ministry statistics that a total of 555 cases of alleged fake encounters by police, defence and paramilitary forces were registered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) since April 1, 2009 to February 15, 2013.
Over the last few years there were concerns raised by various human rights activists and groups regarding the increase in fake encounter killings in India. Unfortunately this issue was never dealt seriously by the successive governments. The incapability of the government to timely intervene into this grave issue has resulted in increase in such crimes.
In most cases the Police and defence personnel are protected by the state and in some cases even celebrated as heroes. The draconian laws like AFSPA and UAPA have always acted as tools to protect the police and armed forces. Such actions by the government proves that it is least interested in punishing the culprits and bringing an end to extra judicial killings.
It must be noted that the encounter killing case of Ishrat Jahan was proved to be fake only after the CBI took the charge of the investigation. Popular Front of India has demanded from the government to initiate CBI probe on all the encounter cases. The government should also immediately repeal the draconian laws which are used by the armed forces to carry out such illegal killings. We also urge the government to provide compensation to the families of the victims.