Show of claws

If somebody voices his or her protest peacefully out of a concern for somebody being assaulted, how could physical abuse be a 'justified' reaction to that? The man had no clue as to who the tormentors were since they were in plain clothes. Even assuming that the person had assaulted a RAB official as he is alleged to have done, does it or can it justify the physical beating and torture he was put through? Was there no other way to deal with the situation?

The whole philosophy of a law-based society rests on empowering an institution, but that invariably with adequate restraints put on the exercise of power vested in them. Weapons and power make them the 'elite force' they are, and that is all the more reason why they have to use these with extraordinary introspection, caution and restraint. The very reason for their existence is negated if they behave otherwise.

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What's even more disconcerting is the way authorities try to explain away an incident like this with a concocted version in apparent self-defence. Instead of restraining themselves from abusing power, what we see is basically an endorsement of it through a fabricated account of what had happened.

In all, this is another shocker that merits not just a probe but also a deterrent punitive action.