Indian police killed 4 suspects of rape and murder of young woman; Her family celebrated

After the calls to execute the young men who raped, murdered and burned a 27-year-old veterinarian in the city of Hyderabad, they were shot dead in mysterious circumstances. Police say they tried to steal police weapons at the time of the recovery, but few details. The victim's relatives were delighted

Indian police killed 4 suspects of rape and murder of young woman; Her family celebrated

Indian police shot dead four suspects on Friday night in the rape and murder of a 27-year-old woman in the south of the state, a police official said. Area Deputy Chief of Police, N. Prakash Reddy, said the four were shot near the crime scene on the outskirts of Hyderabad as they tried to steal the weapons from the police officers who escorted them during the restoration. Their deaths have been applauded by the young woman's family and outraged residents over the rampant violence against women in the country.

Reddy said the four - two truck drivers and two truck cleaners, ages 20 to 26 - were taken to the scene around 6 p.m. "There was a cross fire, all four defendants died," he said. "Two police officers were injured." It is still unclear how many police officers accompanied the defendants and if they were handcuffed or tied together with rope, as is usually the case in such cases. Earlier, a police official said the fatal shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. No explanation for the hourly gap in police statements was made.

Indian police are frequently accused of unlawful executions, calling it "bouts", especially in Mumbai, where gang warfare is taking place, and Punjab and Kashmir districts, where armed uprisings are taking place. Police officers involved in such killings are referred to as "crash experts" and made several films about them.

Attacked and dragged into the field: A 23-year-old rape victim was set on fire in India

Four defendants find police station last week (Photo: Reuters)

Police vehicles transport four defendants in rape and murder of young woman from police station near Hyderabad city, India, November 30, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Over the past week, thousands of people protested in several cities following the rape and murder of the young woman. She was on her way to see a doctor with her motorized scooter, and then she called her sister and told her she had a ceiling. She said a truck driver offered to help her and that she was waiting by the toll road. Police said she was abducted, raped and strangled and her body was set ablaze on the outskirts of Hyderabad city.

Her family welcomed the killing of the four defendants in the act. "It's been ten days since my daughter died. I am grateful to the police and the government for this. My daughter's soul must now rest in peace," her father said. A crowd of people gathered at the scene sprinkled leaves on police vehicles to express their support for police officers. Some shouted "Long live the police," and others swung police over their shoulders.

Incidents of violence against women have not diminished in India despite the passing of new and stricter laws following the group rape and murder of a woman in a New Delhi bus, which has led to riots across the state. Despite the establishment of specialized courts to deal with violence against women, the cases are slowly advancing due to the lack of witnesses and the inability of many families to go through the lengthy legal process. Some of the victims and their relatives were also attacked while complaining against powerful people, usually local politicians.

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Many called for the defendants to be executed. Protest demonstration in Mumbai this week (Photo: Reuters)

Rally in Mumbai, India, following rape and murder of young woman in Hyderabad city, December 3, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Many civilians cheered after the shooting of the four defendants, and expressed support for the police. Great job from the Hyderabad Police, we salute you, "wrote local badminton superstar Sienna Nahwal. The #encounter hashtag was India's leading Twitter and fourth world leader.

In the state of Uttar Pradesh, where a woman was raped yesterday while on her way to court, local politician Mayawati said police should be "inspired" by what happened in Hyderabad.

According to recent government figures, more than 32,500 rape cases were investigated by police in 2017. However, that year, the courts handled only 18,300 rape-related cases, leaving more than 127,800 cases open in the end.

"You can't take the law in your hands"

However, not everyone saw what was going on in Hyderabad with a fair eye, saying that the lack of progress in the courts does not mean that the police should do justice on its own.

"It is not too justice, it is injustice. We will not make women safer by abandoning the rule of law - is it so hard to understand?", A local columnist Rokmini wrote in his Twitter account.

Verinda Gruber, a lawyer for the Supreme Court, said police officers involved in the incident should be questioned, but they will likely be rewarded with medals. "Killing defendants in such a way is a shortcut, but in the long run it won't work. It will have its own consequences."

Narendra Modi’s government has not yet addressed the killing of the accused, but Cleaner Gandhi, a legislator from his Jarata party, said police appeared to have crossed the border.

"It is impossible to take the law in your hands, they (the defendants) would have been hanged by the court anyway. If you are going to shoot them before the legal process is completed, then what is the point of courts, law and police?"

(First update: 9:45)