By Shakir Husain
NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Police in the southern Indian state of Telangana on Friday shot dead four suspects who had been arrested over a gang rape and murder case that caused a national furore.
There has been public anger across the country since the burnt body of the 25-year-old rape victim, a veterinarian by profession, was found last month near Hyderabad.
The gruesome details of the crime provoked massive anger in the country, where more than 100 rapes happen daily.
Some female members of India’s parliament have even called for public lynchings of rapists.
The four suspects in Telangana police’s custody were taken to the crime scene on Friday morning for assisting in the investigation but were shot dead when they tried to flee, according to reports in Indian media.
“The four accused were killed in an encounter with police,” local police commissioner V.C. Sajjanar was quoted as saying.
Two policemen were also injured in the incident.
The killings are likely to calm public anger about the case and appear to have the approval of many.
The rape victim’s family told Indian media that the police action should serve as an example to would-be rapists.
“Her soul will rest in peace now,” the woman’s father said.
The outrage over the Telangana rape case was reminiscent of the protests that followed the brutal gang rape of a student in a moving bus in Delhi in 2012.
The mother of the Delhi victim supported the Telangana police.
“I am very happy and want to congratulate the Hyderabad police for taking this action. Justice has been served. I want to request that no action should be taken against the policemen,” she said.
However, people also raised questions about the rule of law in India, where police encounters are often seen as extra-judicial killings.
“We don’t want the police to do encounters, this isn’t what they are paid for,” activist Brinda Adige said.
— NNN-BERNAMA