In a sensational development, the four men accused in the gangrape and murder of Hyderabad veterinary doctor were killed in an encounter with police on Friday. The accused - Areef, Shiva, Naveen and Chennakeshavulu - were taken to Chatanpally village (the crime spot) under Shadnagar police station allegedly for evidence collection and scene reconstruction. Police claim that they killed them as they tried to take one of the guns and flee.
Soon after the news came out, a large number of people gathered at the crime spot, raising slogans lauding the police. Echoing popular sentiment, CPI National Secretary K Narayana supported the "encounter" and said, "We are happy that the police murdered the killers of the vet. To prevent such crimes, these actions are unavoidable. It is true that there would be law and problems if such actions are taken, but to prevent such brutal crimes these killings are necessary. We offer complete support."
The Telangana BJP said that they will give a response only after clarification from police. But added, "India is not a banana republic and is bound by legal and constitutional framework. Politics over crime, cannot set a right precedence."
The family of the 27-year-old veterinarian also supported the encounter stating that it was 'justice' to them. Her father told the media, “It has been 10 days to the day my daughter died. I express my gratitude towards the police and government for this. My daughter's soul must be at peace now.” The doctor was brutally gang-raped and killed by four persons before they burnt her body in Shamshabad area on November 27. The four accused were in judicial custody at Cherlapally Central Jail in Hyderabad.
BJP leader Maneka Gandhi slammed the police for the killing of four men and said it set a “horrifying” precedent for the country. “What happened was horrifying for the country. You cannot kill people because you want to. You cannot take law in your hands, they (accused) would have been hanged by court anyhow,” the former union minister told reporters in Parliament complex. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said while the people of the country are rejoicing the encounter deaths of the four accused in the gangrape and murder, it is also worrisome that they have lost faith in the justice system.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old rape survivor from Unnao was stabbed multiple times, doused in petrol and set ablaze by five men, including two of her alleged rapists in her village. She was airlifted to Delhi is extremely critical condition and on ventilator, doctors attending to her said. The rape survivor suffered 90 per cent burns. The woman was on her way to a court in Rae Bareli for a hearing in the rape case when she was attacked. In March, the woman had filed a complaint against two men accusing them of raping her and also filming the act.
