Disturbing Trends in India’s Criminal Justice System: Police Acceptance of Violence, Islamophobia, and Underreporting of Custodial Deaths
A recent survey of over 8,276 police personnel across 17 Indian states and a Union Territory, along with interviews with judges, lawyers, and doctors, has shed light on deeply concerning trends within the country’s criminal justice system, Muslim Mirror reported.
The report found that 22% of police personnel agree they can be violent towards suspects, and 28% believe the justice system is too weak and slow, preferring extrajudicial measures. It also uncovered discrepancies in official data on custodial deaths, with NCRB reporting 76 deaths, NHRC 90, and NCAT 111, with the latter suggesting 46% were due to torture, yet NCRB attributed only one to physical assault.
Alarmingly, the report also reveals a concerning rise in Islamophobia within the police force. It found that a larger proportion of police personnel believe that Muslims are naturally criminals and hold similar biases, while Sikh policemen do not exhibit such views. In the national capital, police personnel were found to believe that Muslims are naturally prone to committing criminal offenses.
The report highlights that Muslims are often targets of torture, with police tactics aimed at humiliating their religious identity and masculinity. In states with strict cow slaughter laws, police show strong support for mob punishment. While many police believe Muslims are prone to crime, a notable number also think they can achieve justice. However, these views may reflect biases rather than the actual experiences of Muslims.The findings suggest that a significant portion of police personnel have prejudices against Muslims, and these perceptions may lead to the over-incarceration and disproportionate torture of Muslim individuals.
The report’s conclusions call for urgent reforms to address the deeply rooted issues within India’s criminal justice system, including improving data collection, enhancing police training on human rights and evidence-based interrogation techniques, and ensuring greater accountability and transparency.
These patterns are evidence of a broader agenda to repress the Muslim Community. While Muslims worldwide celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir, BJP authorities have prohibited prayers at Jamia Masjid and Eidgah in Srinagar.
On a public level, however, a glimpse of hope remains as not all Hindus show aggression towards Muslims. In Jaipur, Rajasthan, a group of Hindu men participated in the Eid al-Fitr celebrations by showering Muslims with flowers, symbolizing solidarity and communal harmony. This gesture took place at the Eidgah on Delhi Road and was organized by the Hindu-Muslim Unity Committee, showcasing the spirit of unity between the two communities. Videos from the event captured the touching moment when Hindu men distributed flowers to Muslim attendees gathered for Eid prayers.
