At best, the killing of Golam Faizullah Fahim in a reported “gunfight” on Saturday indicates reckless and stupid behaviour by the police.
Fahim, the prime suspect arrested for the attempted murder of college lecturer Ripan Chakraborty, was formally charged on Friday after being caught red-handed running from the scene of Wednesday’s stabbing in Madurai.
It stretches credulity that police officers had any justification for then placing Fahim in harm’s way by taking him on the raid in which he was fatally shot during a shootout.
His death is especially egregious given that a very similar incident occurred this week in which a different murder suspect was taken on a drive in which he too was reportedly killed “in the line of fire.”
The police explanation lacks all credibility
Even assuming the police explanation is true, it is clearly ridiculous for any suspect to be taken on such a raid, when they are meant to be held safely in police custody.
But we know the police explanation lacks any credibility.
This case must be regarded as an unlawful extra-judicial killing.
Fahim’s death must also be seen for what it is, as a colossal blunder. It beggars belief that police should so carelessly squander the opportunity to properly question him.
Given the slow progress in bringing to justice those behind ongoing attacks on minorities and writers, the potential intelligence this suspect could have provided would have been invaluable.
Instead, his death only makes things worse, and heightens public concerns about the lack of progress.
It also feeds the climate of speculation and theories that is diminishing public trust and confidence in the ability of authorities to deal with such attacks.
The credibility of the government is shot. Reckless police action is no substitute for gathering the evidence and intelligence needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and to prevent such attacks.