Santosh Helekar: In 2010 alone, the Maoists killed a total of 526 innocent civilians and security personnel.
Response: Here are some reports on criminal behavior displayed by security forces. It would be interesting to see how well Santosh is able to defend and justify such behaviour. Excerpts: The reports of the National Human Rights Commission provides a clear picture of the situation pervailing in the country. A total of 85,661 cases disposed of in 2004-2005; 38,448 were dismissed ‘in limini’, while 21,465 were disposed of with directions to the appropriate authorities for remedial measures. 766 complaints related to custodial deaths, 46 cases pertained to encounter deaths and 24,936 other cases were also disposed of after calling for reports from the concerned authorities. In the latter group, 24 cases pertained to alleged disappearances, 1086 cases related to illegal detention/ illegal arrest, and 1213 cases were of alleged false implication. There were, in addition, 16 cases of alleged custodial violence, 84 cases of alleged ‘fake encounters’, 6833 instances of failure to take appropriate action and 6488 complaints related to other alleged police excesses [7]. http://www.humanrightsdefence.org/police-reforms-in-india-crucial-for-human-rights.html *“T*his week, I was told to do an encounter,” a police officer told Human Rights Watch (HRW). He was referring to the practice of taking into custody and extra judicially executing an individual, then claiming that the victim died after initiating a shoot- out with police. “I am looking for my target,” he said. “I will eliminate him . .. I fear being put in jail, but if I don't do it, I'll lose my position." This is the confession of an Officer from Uttar Pradesh but it is applicable to any officer in any state of India. This is how Human Rights Watch report titled “Broken System: Dysfunctional, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police” starts its narrative. This report was released by HRW in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) on 7th August, 2009. The Repot was earlier released at Banglore on 4th August, 2009. As regards Custodial Deaths according to the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) report on “Torture in India 2009” during the last eight years (from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2009) an estimated 1,184 persons were killed in police custody in India. http://www.countercurrents.org/darapuri300410.htm This 118-page report documents a range of human rights violations committed by police, including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and extrajudicial killings. The report is based on interviews with more than 80 police officers of varying ranks, 60 victims of police abuses, and numerous discussions with experts and civil society activists. It documents the failings of state police forces that operate outside the law, lack sufficient ethical and professional standards, are overstretched and outmatched by criminal elements, and unable to cope with increasing demands and public expectations. http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/08/04/broken-system-0 Regards, Marshall
