At what point did the search operation for eight SIMI under-trials become an encounter? Former top cop Vikram Singh says there are three main steps that should have been followed, if it was indeed a hunt for jail escapees. These three steps are key to any encounter:
1. Information
Once the police get the information, they first have to verify the credibility of the source and the authenticity of the information. If accurate, police proceed with reinforcements. If no reinforcements are available on the given day, they can proceed with the available manpower.
2. Scout and Assess
They must send scouts first to verify the number of desperadoes (the escapees who are firm on evading the police) and assess their firepower. Having done that, they are supposed to surround and challenge them. The purpose of challenging them is to give them a chance to surrender.
3. Use of Force
If they refuse to surrender, then the police reserves the right to use proportionate force. If their attempts to make them surrender fail and the targets go on the offensive, the police can return fire. But they must aim below the waist, at non-vital parts. If a police officer ends up killing a target in the course of the encounter, he will have to explain himself and quantify his action in the course of the investigation.
“Deliberate Disclosures”
The Quint’s sting operation reveals a clear intent to focus the state-level investigation on the jailbreak and not the authenticity of the encounter.
“The disclosures made to The Quint, could’ve been deliberate”, says Vikram Singh, ex-DGP, Uttar Pradesh.
This could be with the intention of giving you a mindset or to remove the clouds of doubts that you may be nursing against the investigation and the police department.
The Quint continues to investigate the Bhopal encounter and subsequent efforts by concerned authorities to scuttle the probe.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our report.
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