‘Encounter’ gets political bouquets and brickbats

Hyderabad: The encounter killing of four rapists of Disha has evoked mixed and guarded reactions from politicians from across the country.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Karti Chidambaram felt that the encounter deaths were a blot on the judicial system.

Kejriwal, in his statement to the media, said, "Such incidents show people have lost faith in the judicial system. We should act on strengthening our judicial system."

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, coming in support of Telangana police, said, "UP cops should take inspiration from their Hyderabad counterparts."

However, activist and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi feared that this will set a "horrifying" precedent for the country. "Jo bhi hua hai bahot bhayanak hua hai is desh ke liye (What happened was horrifying for the country)... You cannot kill people because you want to. You cannot take law in your hands. They (the accused) would have been hanged by court anyhow," the BJP MP told media at Parliament complex.

Andhra Pradesh Ministers are praising the Hyderabad police amd said that law had taken a justified step by itself.

The parliament is currently debating on the issue that happened in the early hours of Friday.

BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi supported the encounter while Union Minister Smriti Irani blasted the opposition parties for politicising the encounter. Most MPs felt that this step was taken because of the slow legal system that exists in the country.