CONTROVERSY ERUPTS OVER POLICE ENCOUNTER KILLING OF ACCUSED IN TAMIL NADU BSP CHIEF'S MURDER
Category: Legal News
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Regarding the death of Thiruvengadam, the incident has now raised a lot of doubt on the police conduct and their need for independent investigations towards understanding the cause of death.
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT:
K Thiruvengadam was regarded as a history-sheeter, who had many cases against his name, involving his alleged participation in the assassination of K Armstrong, a significant BSP leader in the state. The police were in the process of transporting Thiruvengadam to a place to pick the weapons, which according to him, was used to kill Armstrong on the 14th of July when the incident occurred.
In his account to the Tamil Nadu police, Thiruvengadam tried to flee the scene and fired at the accompanying officers during transfer. In response the Police again fired at them and Thiruvengadam fell down shot in the leg. The injured accused was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he was however, pronounced dead by the doctors. The police have also justified the shooting saying they had no option than to act in defense as Thiruvengadam attempted to produce an attack on the police officers and escape from police custody.
OPPOSITION ALLEGATIONS:
The manner in which Thiruvengadam died has not been well received, and it has been marked by criticism and serious accusations from the opposition political parties in Tamil Nadu. Politicians have questioned its (the police’s) story and termed it as ‘fake’ encounter stating that it tantamount to extra-judicial killings.
The opposition leaders have been asking why Thiruvengadam being a person who has surrendered to the police was not handcuffed and properly restrained during transfer as it is customary. They argue that this provokes doubts about the police’s version of events and may be interpreted as their attempt to get rid of the accused through an extra-judicial killing.
DEMANDS FOR CBI PROBE:
The Bahujan Samaj Party chief of Tamilnadu K Armstrong was murdered and the national president of BSP, also the ex-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati has fueled fire by demanding CBI inquiry into the Neerav’s murder. Mayawati has questioned the identity of the arrested people and accused them of being innocent for the high profiled murder and demanded for a neutral trial.
same of the opposition parties have accused the police of eliminating Thiruvengadam in the so called encounter with him in a bid to hide some other facts or perhaps some pieces of evidence necessary for them to get to the shores of Armstrong’s murder and thus have demanded for an independent and swift investigation on the murder of Armstrong.
GOVERNMENT AND POLICE DEFENSE:
The Tamil Nadu government and the state police have supported this encounter case, stating that Thiruvengadam was an evil-faced criminal and when he attempted to flee and attack the police officers, he had to be killed. They continue to argue that the police had no other option than to kill the suspect because they met him in action and the shooting was a rightful act.
IMPLICATIONS AND CONCERNS:
This has resulted to a great deal of debate as the credibility of the police is in question and therefore, further investigation with an aim of determining the truth has to be done so that justice can prevail for the two men. The impact of this investigation will affect the overall law and order situation within the state, as well as the confidence that the general public have in the criminal justice system.
CONCLUSION:
The killing of K Thiruvengadam in police encounter was a major event in Tamil Nadu and has raised grievous issues regarding extra-judicial killing and cover up. The event has attracted public attention to doubts regarding the police’s activities and the necessity for legal and impartial examination. The findings of this study will be highly significant in informing the government and other stakeholders in the state about the current state of affairs in the law enforcement sector as well as the degree of confidence of the public in the criminal justice system.
OLQ is a Pan-India basis law firm connecting legal expertise nationwide.
WRITTEN BY: ABHISHEK S CHAUHAN
GUIDED BY: ADVOCATE ANIK
