Encounter killings by police: Difference between revisions

{{short description|staged extra-judicial killings by police}}

'''Encounter killing''' is a term used in [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Sri Lanka]] since the late 20th century to describe [[extrajudicial killing]]s by the police or the armed forces, supposedly in self-defence, when they encounter suspected gangsters or terrorists. In the 1990s and the mid-2000s, the [[Mumbai Police]] used encounter killings to attack the [[Organised crime in India#Bombay/Mumbai underworld|city's underworld]], and the practice spread to other large cities. In Pakistan, the [[Sindh Police]] are notorious for extrajudicial killings through fake encounters especially in [[Karachi]].<ref name="dawn5">{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1389719|title=Rao Anwar and the killing fields of Karachi|website=DAWN|date=February 16, 2018|access-date=December 26, 2018|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406031727/https://www.dawn.com/news/1389719|url-status=live}}</ref>

Critics are sceptical of the police motivation behind many of these reported incidents,<ref name=bbc/> and further complain that the wide acceptance of the practice has led to incidents of the police staging fake encounters to cover-up the killing of suspects when they are either in custody or are unarmed.<ref name="IndExp_2011_Sohrabuddin"/>

440 cases. States with high number of cases were: Uttar Pradesh (231), Rajasthan (33), Maharashtra (31), Delhi (26), Andhra Pradesh (22) and Uttarakhand (19).<ref name="IndExp_2011_Sohrabuddin">{{cite news | url = http://newindianexpress.com/opinion/article482874.ece | title = Sohrabuddin: Interrogating the media | access-date = 2012-05-23 | date = 2011-08-11 | publisher = Indian Express | author = S Gurumurthy | archive-date = 2013-11-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131108090026/http://newindianexpress.com/opinion/article482874.ece | url-status = live }}</ref>

;2009/10 - February 2013

555 cases. States with high number of cases were: Uttar Pradesh (138), Manipur (62), Assam (52), West Bengal (35) and Jharkhand (30).<ref>{{cite news | url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/fake-encounters-congress-ruled-states-narendra-modi-gujarat/1/286891.html | title = NHRC stats show there were more fake encounters in Congress-ruled states than in Narendra Modi's Gujarat | date = 2013-07-04 | publisher = India Today | access-date = 2013-09-02 | archive-date = 2017-02-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170225134326/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/fake-encounters-congress-ruled-states-narendra-modi-gujarat/1/286891.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

The first recorded encounter killing was [[Alluri Sitarama Raju]], who was a local hero in the [[Rampa Rebellion of 1922]].<ref name="Mithun 2019">{{cite web |last1=MK |first1=Mithun |title=From 1924, a look at the history of encounter killings in the two Telugu states |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/1924-look-history-encounter-killings-two-telugu-states-113734 |website=[[The News Minute]] |language=en |date=9 December 2019 |access-date=26 December 2020 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061006/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/1924-look-history-encounter-killings-two-telugu-states-113734 |url-status=live }}</ref> The police of [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] passed on some traditions of police execution to the state of Andhra Pradesh at Independence in 1947.<ref name="Venugopal 2007">{{cite journal |last1=Venugopal |first1=N. |title=Fake Encounters: Story from Andhra Pradesh |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=2007 |volume=42 |issue=41 |pages=4106–4111 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40276541 |issn=0012-9976 |access-date=2020-12-26 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061003/https://www.jstor.org/stable/40276541 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Telangana movement]] the Union government used encounter killing as the explanation for killing more than 3000 people.<ref name="Venugopal 2007"/><ref name="Mithun 2019"/> From the 1960s, the culture of using encounter killings has developed into a tolerated practice.<ref name="Venugopal 2007"/>  

On 11 January 1982, the gangster [[Manya Surve]] was shot dead by police officers Raja Tambat and Isaque Bagwan at the [[Wadala]] area. This is often referred to as the city's first recognised encounter killing.<ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=21225 "City’s first encounter ended two years of urban dacoity"], June 22, 2002, ''Express India''. {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> From that period until early 2003, the police killed 1,200 alleged criminals.<ref name="perry"/>

| He once remarked "Criminals are filth and I'm the cleaner".<ref name="perry">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,404315,00.html Alex Perry, "Urban Cowboys"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827035652/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,404315,00.html |date=2013-08-27 }}, ''TIME'' magazine, 6 January 2003</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-07/mumbai/28188344_1_cop-pradeep-sharma-encounter-specialist-underworld | title=Mumbai: Cop Pradeep Sharma reinstated | date=2009-05-07 | access-date=2013-07-02 | archive-date=2012-10-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023195509/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-07/mumbai/28188344_1_cop-pradeep-sharma-encounter-specialist-underworld | work=[[The Times of India]] | url-status=dead }}</ref> He was accused of having staged the encounter of Ram Narayan Gupta and suspended in 2009/10; however, he was acquitted by the court in 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1857482/report-ram-narayan-gupta-encounter-case-ex-cop-pradeep-sharma-acquitted-by-mumbai-court | title = Ram Narayan Gupta encounter case: Ex-cop Pradeep Sharma acquitted by Mumbai court | date = 2013-07-05 | access-date = 2013-07-25 | newspaper = [[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]] | archive-date = 2013-07-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130709004524/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1857482/report-ram-narayan-gupta-encounter-case-ex-cop-pradeep-sharma-acquitted-by-mumbai-court | url-status = live }}</ref>

|<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3786645.stm | title = Bombay's crack 'encounter' police | date = 2004-06-09 | work = BBC News }}</ref>

|<ref name="rediff_pradip_sharma_century">[http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/03mum.htm "Encounter man Pradip Sharma completes 'century'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114140234/http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/03mum.htm |date=2017-11-14 }}, Rediff, 3 June 2004</ref>

|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Ab-Tak-Chappan-cop-to-eliminate-civic-problems/articleshow/16173143.cms|title="Ab Tak Chappan" cop to eliminate civic problems|website=www.mumbaimirror.com|access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref>

|<ref>[http://www.indiatoday.com/webexclusive/dispatch/20040705/web.html Fallen Heroes]. ''India Today''. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032950/http://www.indiatoday.com/webexclusive/dispatch/20040705/web.html |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120712013022/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbais-encounter-specialists-out-of-favour/61960-5.html Mumbai's encounter specialists out of favour], IBNLive, 26 March 2008.</ref>

|Resigned from service, later joined [[Shivsena]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Ex-encounter-cop-Vaze-set-to-join-Sena/articleshow/3563411.cms|title=Ex-encounter cop Vaze set to join Sena - Times of India|website=indiatimes.com|access-date=15 April 2018|archive-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817131857/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Ex-encounter-cop-Vaze-set-to-join-Sena/articleshow/3563411.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main26.asp?filename=Ne021007Ab_tak.asp |title=The People's Paper |publisher=Tehelka |access-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912174517/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main26.asp?filename=Ne021007Ab_tak.asp |archive-date=2012-09-12 }}</ref>

The term 'police encounter' was used often during the [[Punjab insurgency]] between 1984 and 1995. During this time, [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab police]] officials reported 'encounters' to local newspapers and to the family members of those killed. The victim was typically a person whom the police believed to be a [[Insurgent|militant]] or involved in the militant separatist movement; proof of alleged militant involvement was rarely given. Ultimately, the practice became so common that 'encounter' became synonymous with [[extrajudicial execution]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Dead Silence: The Legacy of Abuses in Punjab|url=https://archive.org/details/deadsilencelegac00huma|url-access=registration|publisher=Human Rights Watch/Asia and Physicians for Human Rights|date=1994}}</ref><ref name="CampbellBrenner2002">{{cite book|last1=Campbell|first1=Bruce B.|last2=Brenner|first2=Arthur David|title=Death Squads in Global Perspective: Murder with Deniability|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BlXPSphM840C&pg=PA265|access-date=19 June 2010|date=2002-10-01|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4039-6094-8|pages=265–|archive-date=2017-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225054604/https://books.google.com/books?id=BlXPSphM840C&pg=PA265|url-status=live}}</ref>

It is alleged that police typically take a suspected militant into custody without filing an arrest report. If the suspect dies during interrogation, security forces would deny ever taking the person into custody and instead claim that he was killed during an armed encounter, placing weapons on or near the body to suggest the police acted in self-defence.<ref>{{cite book|title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (India)|publisher=U.S. State Department|date=1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/weekinreview/01pepper.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all|title=India Makes a Place for Dirty Harry|last=Pepper|first=Daniel|date=2009-02-28|publisher=NY Times|access-date=2009-05-08|archive-date=2018-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061137/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/weekinreview/01pepper.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sbs.com.au/dateline/index.php?page=transcript&dte=2002-04-03&headlineid=427 |title=India-Who Killed the Sikhs |date=4 March 2002 |publisher=Dateline |access-date=2009-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912235435/http://news.sbs.com.au/dateline/index.php?page=transcript&dte=2002-04-03&headlineid=427 |archive-date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ensaaf.org/pdf/un/Bhatti.pdf|title=Communication to Special Representative on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders|date=2006-05-12|publisher=Ensaaf|access-date=2009-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908000456/http://www.ensaaf.org/pdf/un/Bhatti.pdf|archive-date=2008-09-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On July 20, 2020, a special [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] court in [[Mathura]] convicted 11 policemen, including former deputy Superintendent of Police Kan Singh Bhati in former MLA [[Raja Man Singh (politician)|Raja Man Singh]]'s murder case.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mehta |first1=Kriti |title=Mathura court convicts 11 cops in 1985 death case of Raja Man Singh who rammed his jeep into CM's helicopter |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/mathura-court-convicts-11-cops-in-1985-death-case-of-raja-man-singh-who-rammed-his-jeep-into-cms-helicopter/624900 |publisher=[[Times Now]] |date=July 21, 2020 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061002/https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/mathura-court-convicts-11-cops-in-1985-death-case-of-raja-man-singh-who-rammed-his-jeep-into-cms-helicopter/624900 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Raja Man Singh (politician)|Raja Man Singh]] was killed along with his two supporters in a fake police encounter in February 1985.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foujdar |first1=Suresh |last2=Chaturvedi |first2=Amit |title=11 cops convicted for killing Rajasthan ex-royal in fake encounter 35 yrs ago |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-court-convicts-11-cops-including-deputy-sp-for-ex-royal-s-murder-in-rajasthan/story-M54w3o75NfoSpVSzfXnjlK.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=July 21, 2020 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061003/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-court-convicts-11-cops-including-deputy-sp-for-ex-royal-s-murder-in-rajasthan/story-M54w3o75NfoSpVSzfXnjlK.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Between 2002 and 2006, 22 police encounter killings were reported in Gujarat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/probe-all-22-fake-encounters-between-2002-and-2006-sc-tells-gujarat-panel/904161/0 |title=Probe all 22 fake encounters between 2002 and 2006, SC tells Gujarat panel |author=Krishnadas Rajagopal |newspaper=Indian Express |date=2012-01-26 |access-date=2014-06-26 |archive-date=2016-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214230532/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/probe-all-22-fake-encounters-between-2002-and-2006-sc-tells-gujarat-panel/904161/0 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the NHRC figures, during 2002–2007, there were four alleged fake encounters in Gujarat (out of 440 fake encounters in all of India).<ref name="IndExp_2011_Sohrabuddin"/> These cases gained national media attention:

* Sadiq Jamal (2003)<ref name="Tehelka_dead_2011">{{cite journal | url = http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=Ne031211Coverstory.asp | title = Dead Man Talking | journal = Tehelka | volume = 8 | issue = 48 | date = 2011-12-03 | author = Rana Ayyub | access-date = 2014-02-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140221160825/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=Ne031211Coverstory.asp | archive-date = 2014-02-21 | url-status = dead | author-link = Rana Ayyub }}</ref>

* [[Ishrat Jahan]] case (2004)<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2647961.ece | title = Third victory for us, says Ishrat's family | publisher = [[The Hindu]] | date = 2011-11-22 | access-date = 2011-11-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122161808/http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2647961.ece | archive-date = 2011-11-22 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

* [[Sohrabuddin Sheikh]] case (2005)<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/25spec.htm | title = The journalist who cracked Gujarat fake encounter case | publisher = [[rediff.com]] | date = 2007-04-25 | access-date = 2011-11-22 | archive-date = 2012-01-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120110054332/http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/25spec.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

When the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] government came into power in the state in March 2017, they ordered state police to initiate the encounters against criminals. There were many controversies regarding this. [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National human rights commission]] issued a notice to the state government and a bench of three judges from the [[supreme court of India]] warned and issued notice to the [[Uttar Pradesh government]] in this case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-to-uttar-pradesh-over-fake-encounters/articleshow/64824250.cms|title=Supreme Court to Uttar Pradesh over fake encounters {{!}} India News - Times of India|last1=Jul 2|first1=PTI {{!}} Updated|last2=2018|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-07-03|last3=Ist|first3=12:50|archive-date=2021-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061003/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-to-uttar-pradesh-over-fake-encounters/articleshow/64824250.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/lucknow-news/ngo-alleges-threat-from-up-police-over-fake-encounter-1879645|title=NGO Alleges Threat From UP Police Over Fake Encounter|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2019-07-03|archive-date=2021-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061003/https://www.ndtv.com/lucknow-news/ngo-alleges-threat-from-up-police-over-fake-encounter-1879645|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Veerappan]], the notorious forest brigand, was reportedly killed by the [[Special Task Force (India)|Special Task Force]] (STF) Headed by [[ K Vijay Kumar ]] in an encounter on 18 October 2004. Some human rights organisations claimed that the circumstantial evidence indicated that he was killed in a fake encounter after being tortured by the police.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hindu.com/2005/01/19/stories/2005011914970500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050315235758/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/19/stories/2005011914970500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-03-15 | title = Veerappan killed in fake encounter: activists | date = 2005-01-19 |work=[[The Hindu]] | access-date = 2011-11-22 }}</ref>

On 19 September 2008, Delhi-police Inspector [[Mohan Chand Sharma]], a decorated officer, and two suspects were killed in the [[Batla House encounter case]] in New Delhi. The encounter led to the arrest of two suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists, while a third managed to escape. The [[Shahi Imam]] of the [[Jama Masjid, Delhi|Jama Masjid]] termed the encounter as 'totally fake"' and accused the government of harassing Muslims.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/09/batla-house-encounter-fake-says-shahi-imam.htm | title = Batla House encounter fake: Shahi Imam | publisher = [[rediff.com]] | date = 2010-02-09 | access-date = 2011-11-22 | archive-date = 2012-04-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120430192747/http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/09/batla-house-encounter-fake-says-shahi-imam.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> Several political parties and activists demanded a probe into the allegations that the encounter was fake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?260092|title=Batla House Encounter: Unanswered Questions|date=23 July 2009|publisher=Outlook|access-date=22 November 2011|archive-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131134648/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?260092|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100860151200.htm|title=SP for judicial inquiry into Jamia encounter|date=8 October 2008|location=Chennai, India|access-date=22 November 2011|archive-date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108031449/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100860151200.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/attackonnorthindians-jamiaencounterroc/375627/|title=Attack on north Indians, Jamia encounter rocks LS|date=20 October 2008|work=Indian Express}}</ref> After an investigation, the National Human Rights Commission cleared the Delhi Police personnel of any violations of human rights.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/batla-house-encounter-nhrc-gives-clean-chit-to-cops/97685-3.html|title=Batla House encounter: NHRC gives clean chit to cops|date=22 July 2009|publisher=CNN-IBN|access-date=22 November 2011|archive-date=10 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710011421/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/batla-house-encounter-nhrc-gives-clean-chit-to-cops/97685-3.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> While sections of the media still oppose the ruling and believe the police to be culprits, a video clip that surfaced in 2016 featured a confession from the terrorist who had escaped the encounter, about how he managed to do so and later join the ISIS, further confirming the credibility of the encounter.

An alleged 'encounter' in 1991, led to the 2016 sentencing of 47 policemen to life imprisonment for the slaying of 11 Sikh pilgrims in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sally|first1=Vishal|title=Pilibhit verdict: For Gurdaspur families, justice delayed, not denied|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/pilibhit-fake-encounter-of-11-sikh-pilgrims-by-47-policemen-for-gurdaspur-families-justice-delayed-but-not-denied/story-MZyESI6fYJBvFLErEEknmN.html|access-date=25 February 2017|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=April 6, 2016|archive-date=25 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225130723/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/pilibhit-fake-encounter-of-11-sikh-pilgrims-by-47-policemen-for-gurdaspur-families-justice-delayed-but-not-denied/story-MZyESI6fYJBvFLErEEknmN.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, all four men accused in the [[2019 Hyderabad gang rape]] were killed in a police encounter on 6 December 2019. Police alleged that one of four had gestured to the other three to flee after attacking the cops, that the four tried to run towards a deserted pathway, and that the cops opened fire in self-defense.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-veterinary-rape-murder-case-telangana-police-encounter-accused-killed-6153186/|title=In sudden turn of events, all four accused in Hyderabad vet rape-murder case killed in police encounter|last=News Service|first=Express|date=6 December 2019|website=Indian Express|access-date=2019-12-06|archive-date=2021-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061017/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-veterinary-rape-murder-case-telangana-police-encounter-accused-killed-6153186/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-rape-murder-accused-shot-dead-how-the-encounter-with-telangana-police-unfolded-6153325/|title=Hyderabad rape-murder accused shot dead: How the 'encounter' with Telangana Police unfolded|last=News Service|first=Express|date=6 December 2019|website=The Indian Express|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref><ref name="CNN_shot">{{cite news |title=Police shoot dead four suspects in gang-rape and murder |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/06/asia/india-hyderabad-rape-suspects-shot-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=6 December 2019 |work=CNN |date=6 December 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061017/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/06/asia/india-hyderabad-rape-suspects-shot-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 July 2020, it was reported that Vikas Dubey, regarded as one of the most notorious criminal in the state, was shot dead by policemen in their own defense after the murder suspect got hands on a gun when the vehicle being used overturned.</ref><ref name="BBC_shot">{{cite news |title=Vikas Dubey: India police murder suspect shot dead after arrest |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-india-53359221 |access-date=10 July 2020 |work=BBC |date=10 July 2020 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061017/https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-india-53359221 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW) reported that in 2015, 2,108 men, seven women, and six minors were killed in [[Pakistan]] in alleged police encounters, including 696 people in the city of [[Karachi]] alone. Of these, 1191 men and three women were killed in the province of [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], 829 men and one woman were killed in [[Sindh]], 64 men and one woman were killed in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], 22 men and two women were killed in [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]], and two men were killed in [[Gilgit-Baltistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Law-And-order.pdf |title=State of Human Rights in Pakistan 2015 |website=Human Rights Commission of Pakistan |language=en |access-date=2019-01-23 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061028/http://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Law-And-order.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> According to HRW, many of the encounters were “faked and did not occur in situations in which lives were at risk.” HRW added: “In the vast majority of these cases, no police officer was injured or killed, raising questions as to whether there was in fact an armed exchange in which there was an imminent threat to the lives of police or others.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.humanrights.asia/news/forwarded-news/AHRC-FPR-031-2016/ |title=PAKISTAN: Police accused of killing more than 2000 persons in encounters during the year 2015 |website=Asian Human Rights Commission |language=en |date=2016-09-27 |access-date=2019-01-23 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061031/http://www.humanrights.asia/news/forwarded-news/AHRC-FPR-031-2016/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/26/pakistan-police-accused-of-illegally-killing-hundreds-of-suspects-a-year |title=Pakistan police accused of illegally killing hundreds of suspects a year |website=The Guardian |language=en |date=2016-09-26 |access-date=2019-01-23 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061032/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/26/pakistan-police-accused-of-illegally-killing-hundreds-of-suspects-a-year |url-status=live }}</ref>

A total of 3,345 people, including 23 women and 12 minors, were killed in 2,117 alleged police encounters in Pakistan from January 1, 2014 to May 11, 2018, according to the [[Human Rights Commission of Pakistan]] (HRCP).<ref name="tni">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/421322-3-345-killed-in-police-encounters-from-jan-2014-to-may-2018 |title=3,345 killed in police encounters from Jan 2014 to May 2018 |website=The News International |language=en-US |date=2019-01-20 |access-date=2019-01-23 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061030/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/421322-3-345-killed-in-police-encounters-from-jan-2014-to-may-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> 55 police officials and 10 passersby were also killed in the encounters. Most of the alleged police encounter cases occurred in the [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] province (1,036 cases) followed by the [[Sindh]] province (944 cases), whereas most of the killings in the alleged police encounters occurred in Sindh (1,592 killings) followed by Punjab (1,556 killings). The encounter cases and killings were reported to be much lower in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] (71 killings in 54 cases) and [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] (57 killings in 34 cases) during the period.<ref name="tni"/>  

Since the data collected by HRCP was based on monitoring of media reports, the total number of cases and killings may be higher than the estimate.<ref name="pt">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/01/20/shaddy-encounters-that-caused-national-outcry/ |title=Shady encounters that caused national outcry |website=Pakistan Today |language=en-US |date=2019-01-20 |access-date=2019-01-23 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061031/https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/01/20/shaddy-encounters-that-caused-national-outcry/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{see|Killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud}}

{{see|Sahiwal killings}}

A [[Lahore]]-based family had been travelling to a family member's wedding in a car driven by their neighbour on 19 January 2019. They were shot down near [[Sahiwal]] toll plaza.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://asiatimes.com/society-must-refuse-to-tolerate-fake-encounters/ |title=Society must refuse to tolerate fake 'encounters' |last=Zafar |first=Imad |website=www.atimes.com |language=en-US |access-date=2019-01-23 }}</ref>

On January 16, 2018, when the inquiry against [[Rao Anwar]] was about to start following the extrajudicial [[killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud]], Rao Anwar claimed that he came under attack in [[Karachi]]'s [[Malir Cantonment]] while he was heading towards his house. He alleged that a suicide attacker detonated explosives near him and his squad but they remained unhurt, and that two accomplices of the attacker then opened fire on the police, both of whom were shot dead in the exchange of fire. He also alleged that a few militants escaped the site under the cover of fire while the police and [[Pakistan Rangers]] were conducting search operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1635538/1-never-seen-suicide-attack-attackers-body-one-piece-ctd-official-rao-anwar-suicide-attack/|title=Never seen a case where suicide bomber's body is in one piece: CTD official on Rao Anwar attack|website=The Express Tribune|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061032/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1635538/1-never-seen-suicide-attack-attackers-body-one-piece-ctd-official-rao-anwar-suicide-attack|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/amp/178929|title=Suspect killed in Rao Anwar suicide attack case was innocent, claims family|website=Geo News|date=January 27, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061032/https://www.geo.tv/amp/178929|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) probing the case doubted if a suicide attack had even taken place at the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/02/15/ctd-official-doubts-veracity-of-suicide-attack-on-rao-anwar/|title=CTD official doubts veracity of suicide attack on Rao Anwar|website=Pakistan Today|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209061033/https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/02/15/ctd-official-doubts-veracity-of-suicide-attack-on-rao-anwar/|url-status=live}}</ref> The investigators found out that contrary to Rao Anwar's claim, no exchange of fire had taken place. They termed the incident a fake encounter. According to the investigators, the alleged suicide attacker Gul Saeed was first riddled by the police with bullets, then a suicide vest was wrapped around his body, and then the vest was set on fire which burned his body.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2018/01/investigators-expose-alleged-suicide-attack-on-ssp-rao-anwar/|title=Investigators expose alleged suicide attack on SSP Rao Anwar|website=SAMAA TV|date=January 22, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/425268-Heirs-of-another-victim-of-fake-encounter-to-file-case-against-Rao-Anwar|title=Heirs of another victim of fake encounter to file case against Rao Anwar|website=Dunya News|date=January 27, 2018|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref>

* ''[[Ab Tak Chhappan]]'' (2004) and its sequel, ''[[Ab Tak Chhappan 2]]'' (2015), both starring [[Nana Patekar]]

* ''[[Shootout at Lokhandwala]]'' (2007) and ''[[Shootout at Wadala]]'' (2013)

*(Organization), Human Rights Watch; Shah, Naureen (2009). ''Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse, and Impunity in the Indian Police.'' Human Rights Watch. {{ISBN|9781564325181}}.

[[Category:Counter-terrorism in India]]