A report in this newspaper yesterday has revealed that in the last 13 years, 1900 people have been victims of extrajudicial killings, of whom 800 died in police custody. These numbers are chilling to say the least, and a damning narrative of the state of rule of law in this country. Law enforcement agencies have become so emboldened by the impunity they enjoy, that the ongoing human rights violations in the name of "crossfire" or "encounter" has become something of a norm in the country. The circumstance of the deaths described by the agencies would be hard even for the most credulous to accept.  

The record of shootouts dates as far back as 2004—when RAB was formed. The police, RAB and joint forces have since been involved in many extrajudicial killings. Some of these cases attracted media attention while some have gone completely unnoticed. In both cases, however, victims' families have rarely, if ever, gotten justice.

We cannot talk about extrajudicial deaths without mentioning enforced disappearances because the two are intrinsically linked. According to various reports between 2010 and July this year as many as 519 people have become victims of enforced disappearances—329 of whom are still missing. It is for the law enforcing agencies to trace these people.      

Without major reforms of the criminal justice system, the abuse of power by law enforcement authorities will continue unabated. The lack of regard for due process is rooted not only in a culture of unaccountability but also indicate the likely acquiesce of higher authorities, and this must change. An oversight mechanism must be employed so that law enforcement officials involved in extrajudicial killings do not go unpunished.