Indian police kill 4 men suspected of gang rape, murder; draw cheers
Cheers….from the family and friends of a 27-year-old vet who was raped and murdered, after four men accused of the crime were shot dead by Indian police on Friday (December 6).
Police said they had taken the suspects, two truck drivers and two truck cleaners aged between 20 and 26, to re-construct the crime.
But when they tried to snatch the policemen's weapons, they were shot dead in cross-fire that also left two policemen injured.
The news was welcomed by the victim's family and by citizens outraged over crimes against women in the country.
Over the past week, thousands of people staged angry protests over the case.
But on Friday, a crowd gathered at the site of the shooting to celebrate…
some shouting ''Long live police'' and throwing flower petals at police vans in support.
Others though were concerned about the apparent 'instant justice' of the incident…
Including Rukmini S - an Indian columnist - who argued that abandoning the rule of law would not make women any safer.
According to the most recent government data, more than 32,500 cases of rape were registered with the police in 2017 - that's about 90 a day.
Despite the setting up of fast track courts, cases have moved slowly, for lack of witnesses and the inability of many families to go through the long legal process.
Some victims and their families have been attacked for pursuing cases against powerful men.
On Thursday (December 5), a rape victim was set ablaze while she was on her way to court in Uttar Pradesh state.
There was no immediate word from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday's incident.
