Brutal gangrape and murder in Hyderabad on November 26,2019 have led to major protests in Telangana and other parts of the country. The protestors raised issues including an end to violence against women, utilization of Nirbhaya fund, need for structural changes in the society, and justice for the victim. Any attempt by the government at meeting most of these demands would cost money.
The four accused in the case of rape and murder of the female veterinarian were killed by the Telangana police on the early morning of December 6, 2019, at Chatanpally of Shadnagar, 50 km from Hyderabad.
The fact that the culprits were not provided with a fair trial is a matter of concern for certain sections of the population. On the other hand, the arbitrariness with which such execution of culprits was carried out is striking. A concept of justice demand equality before the law. The worthy question is will the police execute all the rape accused in such a manner, will the police execute rape and murder accused who possess the money and political power to resist such actions? The answer is no. Does police execute all the rape and murder accused who do not possess money and political power? The answer again is no. When an action is evidently arbitrary it cannot claim to be justice, but then again features that the culprits and victim must exhibit for police to take such drastic measures is worthy of investigation.
The best way to comprehend any police action is through the perspective of maintenance of order. The protests and demands that emerged due to the gangrape and murder were threatening the mandate of maintaining order, the demands raised by different protesting groups to address the issues of violence against women including structural changes would have been a charge on the State finances. Even if the police do arrest the culprits, protests can carry on for a longer period under the banner of justice while also raising the demand for the structural changes to end the violence against women. Such acts would have put pressure both on the police force and the state treasury. Irrespective of whether it will reduce the crime against women or not, summary execution of the culprits was indeed the cheap and quick measure that the administration could have taken, to end the protests and to weaken the demand for widespread structural changes.
The four accused in the case of rape and murder of the female veterinarian were killed by the Telangana police on the early morning of December 6, 2019, at Chatanpally of Shadnagar, 50 km from Hyderabad.
The fact that the culprits were not provided with a fair trial is a matter of concern for certain sections of the population. On the other hand, the arbitrariness with which such execution of culprits was carried out is striking. A concept of justice demand equality before the law. The worthy question is will the police execute all the rape accused in such a manner, will the police execute rape and murder accused who possess the money and political power to resist such actions? The answer is no. Does police execute all the rape and murder accused who do not possess money and political power? The answer again is no. When an action is evidently arbitrary it cannot claim to be justice, but then again features that the culprits and victim must exhibit for police to take such drastic measures is worthy of investigation.
The best way to comprehend any police action is through the perspective of maintenance of order. The protests and demands that emerged due to the gangrape and murder were threatening the mandate of maintaining order, the demands raised by different protesting groups to address the issues of violence against women including structural changes would have been a charge on the State finances. Even if the police do arrest the culprits, protests can carry on for a longer period under the banner of justice while also raising the demand for the structural changes to end the violence against women. Such acts would have put pressure both on the police force and the state treasury. Irrespective of whether it will reduce the crime against women or not, summary execution of the culprits was indeed the cheap and quick measure that the administration could have taken, to end the protests and to weaken the demand for widespread structural changes.
