CUSTODIAL DEATHS Political aid to blame for custodial violence: The Supreme Court (SC) had observed some time ago, in a case pertaining to death of a person in in police custody in Madhya Pradesh in 1984, that "custodial violence is increasing due to the active connivance of those in politics and enjoying power". A division bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice C K Thakker noted that custodial violence, "torture and abuse of police power are not peculiar to this country but is widespread". The apex court also expressed its anguish over the way the crime was committed in a planned manner. "If it is assuming alarming proportions, now a days, all round it is merely on account of the devilish devices adopted by those at the helm of affairs who proclaim from roof tops to be defenders of democracy and protectors of people’s rights and yet do not hesitate to condescend behind the screen to let loose their men in uniform to settle personal scores." the Bench said . Writing the judgement, Justice Pasayat said these are the very same people who later feign ignorance of what happened and pretend to be "peace loving puritans and saviours of citizen’s rights." "The dehumanising torture, assault and death in custody which have assumed alarming proportions raise serious questions about the credibility of rule of law and administration of criminal justice system," the Bench added.
