'There's societal sanction for encounters'

Former Director General of the Border Security Force Prakash Singh, who has had extensive experience in Assam and Punjab, spoke about Rajbir Singh's killing.

CNN-IBN: There is evidence that Rajbir Singh may have given his own service revolver to the man who may have killed him. Do you find that suspicious?

Prakash Singh: Not only suspicious, it was very irresponsible. In fact, it was criminal. It amounts to a breach of license, it amounts to a violation of The Arms Act and Rajbir Singh's conduct in this regard could not be justified.

CNN-IBN: But for a policeman who has killed more than 50 people in encounters, is there a temptation to stray into the dark side?

Prakash Singh: Well, temptations depend of the kind of person he is. There are men who are made of very strong material and they don't succumb to any temptations under any circumstances. There are other people also who succumb to temptations. But the manner in which Rajbir Singh gave his revolver to the property dealer for his own protection, I just find it incomprehensible, irrational, illogical and totally unjustifiable. There is a Latin phrase nil nisi bonum (speak nothing but good of the dead). But the conclusions are inescapable. Perhaps Rajbir was himself involved in some nefarious deals along with the property dealer and they had an argument and the property dealer shot him dead.

CNN-IBN: Do you believe that no encounter specialist should be given the impression that he is irreplaceable.

Prakash Singh: Firstly I don't like the word encounter specialist. There is nothing like specialisation in encounters. Encounter is situation where in pursuit of your normal professional duties you get sucked into that situation or it is imposed on you and then you use force in the performance of your duties. But what is this specialisation in encounters? I don't understand this term and it has acquired a dirty connotation in India and when you say that someone is an encounter specialist, you are implying almost or almost alleging that he is killing persons in cold blood.

CNN-IBN: Do you believe that the system of killing peoples in encounter is necessary in India today?

Prakash Singh: I would not say it is necessary. I would also say it is illegal, unjustifiable but the circumstances under which it happens that needs to be understood. Unless we understand that we will not find the right solutions to do away with such practices. It happens because the laws are lax, the judicial process is very slow, and there is political hint or even direction for such encounters and I would say that there are societal sanctions also. People know that the laws of the land cannot take care of these people, the mafia dons, the criminals and they feel quite happy that these people are bumped off. So all these factors contribute to an atmosphere and an environment where an encounter is not looked down upon.

CNN-IBN: Do you agree to the fact the encounter specialist especially in Mumbai tend to manipulate or tend to use their power for their personal gains.

Prakash Singh: Not only in Mumbai. This would apply anywhere. i suppose when you give a long rope to somebody, he has so much of latitude and at the end of it he starts getting kudos, he starts getting promotions, rewards. Then power goes into his head and at that stage, I suppose he crosses the Lakshman Rekha (threshold) and then he starts using that power for personal aggrandizement. How some of the so-called encounter specialist have acquired wealth, how they have tiled the system. That happens. It is a normal human psychology. When you find that you are not held accountable and you can do things, which are not permitted by law and get away with it, then you start misusing your power for your self-aggrandizement.

CNN-IBN: It is a kind of power kick that they get but it is a two-way relationship. The encounter specialist work through informants who are affiliated to the gangs and they also get affiliated to those gangs. Is there a definite solution.

Prakash Singh: There is an effective solution. Our criminal justice system has to deliver. The criminal justice system has to function and it should take care of these people and inflict punishment to them. it should be very severe punishment within a very short period of time, once that happens there will be no societal sanction for encounters and we will not have these kinds of phenomena.

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