Concerns raised over Bassi's 'shooting or hanging' criminals

Concerned over Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi's recent statement about "shooting or hanging" the perpetrators of crime against women, a Human Rights organisation today said that police are not meant to judge and punish but to uphold the law.
"It is disturbing that the leadership of one of the largest police forces in the world appears to endorse tactics akin to extra-judicial killings that by-pass due process," said
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in a statement.
"The police must provide safety and security to people only by upholding the law, and by no other means, whatever their personal views.

"The police must remain impartial even if there is a growing tide of public opinion clamouring for mob justice and police leadership must at every turn reinforce Constitutional principles in day to day policing," the body stressed.
Addressing the Delhi Police's annual press conference on Monday, Bassi had said, "If the Constitution permits shooting... If it permits hanging on spot, Delhi Police will not refrain from doing so to people who indulge in heinous crimes against women."

Although the police chief had also said that, "But we are committed to human rights."
Citing that it was not the function of police to judge and punish, but only to bring suspects fairly before the courts, CHRI said that best ways to curb rising crimes against women are better training, resources, and operational guidance towards a lawful and effective police response to crimes against women.

"Well thought out measures that improve policing on the ground, from unfailing registration of complaints to credible investigation of cases to present before the courts, will do more to bring justice to victims than populist comments that suggest rough justice," the statement said.