Bihar lawmaker questions police encounters, warns against caste-based targeting

Bhai Virendra, an RJD legislator in Bihar's capital, has publicly criticized the state administration's approach to police encounters, cautioning against the misuse of such operations as instruments of personal vendetta or communal targeting.

Addressing the issue in Patna, Virendra drew a distinction between lawful self-defense during criminal confrontations and extrajudicial actions motivated by private grievances or caste considerations. He emphasized that while retaliatory firing during genuine criminal operations may be defensible, shooting suspects based on personal enmity or caste-based discrimination constitutes a serious abuse of state authority.

The legislator's remarks reflect growing concerns among opposition parties in Bihar regarding the conduct of police encounters and questions about the neutrality of law enforcement operations. His statement underscores ongoing debates in the state regarding the potential misuse of encounter operations against marginalized communities.

The comments come amid broader scrutiny of police tactics in Bihar, where encounters have periodically sparked controversy regarding their legitimacy and whether they reflect genuine threat responses or targeted actions based on social identity and personal relationships.