Ongoing trend of extra-judicial killings in TN: 'Blatant violation of rule of law'

By Thiagu*

In a statement issued on September 23, 2024, the Joint Action Against Custodial Torture – Tamil Nadu (JAACT) condemned the extra-judicial killing of notorious criminal ‘Seizing’ Raja in Chennai. The organization expressed deep concern over the ongoing trend of extra-judicial killings in Tamil Nadu, calling it a blatant violation of the rule of law.

Reports indicate that in the early hours of September 23, Greater Chennai Police shot ‘Seizing’ Raja in Neelankarai. Raja had been apprehended earlier in Kadappa, Andhra Pradesh, and brought to Chennai. According to the police, while attempting to recover a hidden weapon in a remote area near Neelankarai, Raja allegedly fired a concealed country-made gun at the officers, resulting in his death.

However, this account closely resembles the police's narrative following the extra-judicial killing of another criminal, Thiruvengadam, on July 14, 2024, raising serious questions and suspicions.

This incident marks the third extra-judicial killing by the Greater Chennai Police within just ten weeks since A. Arun took office as Commissioner on July 8, 2024, shortly after the murder of K. Armstrong, the former state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Upon his appointment, Arun was quoted as stating, “We will speak in a language that rowdies will understand,” in response to inquiries about addressing rowdyism. Such a statement from the city's top police official appears reckless and irresponsible, undermining the responsibility to maintain law and order. While recognizing the sensitivity surrounding the investigation into Armstrong’s murder, JAACT asserts that employing extra-judicial measures, including encounters, will not deliver justice.

Although Raja was reportedly a person of interest in the Armstrong investigation, the police later clarified that his arrest was unrelated to the case. This contradiction raises further doubts and could erode public trust in the police investigation.

The recent incidents expose a concerning alliance between criminals and political figures, including those within the legal profession. It is now imperative for the government to carry out an impartial investigation to hold the true perpetrators accountable, thereby restoring public confidence in law enforcement.

Tragically, Raja is the 16th individual to fall victim to extra-judicial killings since the current DMK administration took office in May 2021. Such actions, along with custodial torture, have no place in a progressive society like Tamil Nadu, and the government must abandon its ‘encounter model’ of policing.

Arun was quoted as stating, We will speak in a language that rowdies will understand, in response to queries about the encounter

Relying on illegal and extra-judicial responses is a clear indication of the administration's lost faith in effective prosecution and its failure to conduct thorough and fair investigations.

JAACT strongly opposes the use of extra-judicial killings as a tactic against rowdyism, emphasizing that such actions mock the rule of law and violate constitutional morality. It urges the High Court of Madras to intervene immediately regarding the rampant instances of extra-judicial killings, calling for a suo-motu inquiry into both current and past incidents in Tamil Nadu.

JAACT recommends forming a commission of inquiry comprising former judges and distinguished former police officers to uncover the truth behind the recent three killings in Chennai. It appeals to the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission to take urgent suo-motu action regarding today’s incident by setting up a fact-finding team to ensure an independent investigation that prevents any tampering with crucial evidence.

Additionally, it reminds the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) of its mandate under the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987, which allows it to provide legal support to those in custody. The SLSA is also empowered to initiate public interest litigation to seek an independent inquiry into the recent extra-judicial killings in the state.

While JAACT trusts that these requests for action will be heeded, it implores the Government of Tamil Nadu to immediately suspend the police officers involved in Raja’s killing, including Commissioner Arun and Additional Director General of Police Davidson Devasirvatham, to reinforce responsibility and end the culture of impunity.

---

*Convenor - Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT)

Comments

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

What's behind Donald Trump's 'narco-state' accusation against Venezuela

By Manolo De Los Santos The US government has revived its campaign to label Venezuela a "narco-state", accusing its top leadership of drug trafficking and slapping hefty bounties on their heads for capture. This campaign, which only momentarily took a backseat, is a strategic fabrication, not a factual assessment. This accusation, particularly amplified under the Trump Administration, is a calculated smokescreen to justify a long-standing agenda: the overthrow of the Venezuelan government and the seizure of its vast oil and mineral resources. A closer examination of the facts reveals a country that has actively fought drug trafficking on its own terms and a US government with a clear and consistent history of destabilizing independent countries in Latin America.

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857 By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

Ground reality: Israel would a remain Jewish state, attempt to overthrow it will be futile

By NS Venkataraman* Now that truce has been arrived at between Israel and Hamas for a period of four days and with release of a few hostages from both sides, there is hope that truce would be further extended and the intensity of war would become significantly less. This likely “truce period” gives an opportunity for the sworn supporters and bitter opponents of Hamas as well as Israel and the observers around the world to introspect on the happenings and whether this war could have been avoided. There is prolonged debate for the last several decades as to whom the present region that has been provided to Jews after the World War II belong. View of some people is that Jews have been occupants earlier and therefore, the region should belong to Jews only. However, Christians and those belonging to Islam have also lived in this regions for long period. While Christians make no claim, the dispute is between Jews and those who claim themselves to be Palestinians. In any case...

Fate of Yamuna floodplain still hangs in "balance" despite National Green Tribunal rap on Sri Sri event

By Ashok Shrimali* While the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday reportedly pulled up the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for granting permission to hold spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival on the banks of Yamuna, the chief petitioners against the high-profile event Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan has declared, the “fate of the floodplain still hangs in balance.”

Counterview

Search This Blog