A recently released report, the Status of Policing in India Report 2025: Police Torture and (Un)Accountability, paints a concerning picture of the prevalence of police torture and the systemic challenges hindering accountability within the Indian police.
The report, a collaborative effort by Common Cause and Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), is based on a survey of 8,276 police personnel across 17 states and a Union Territory, along with in-depth interviews with judges, lawyers, and doctors.
The report highlights a significant disregard for the rule of law among a notable section of the police. Nearly one-third (28%) of police personnel believe the criminal justice system is too weak and slow, with a preference for extrajudicial measures over due process. Alarmingly, almost two out of five (38%) feel that for minor offences, police should give minor punishment instead of following legal trials.
The study also reveals a disturbing acceptance of violence. Twenty-two percent of police personnel fully agree that it is alright for the police to be violent towards suspects of serious offences for the greater good of society, with an additional 41 percent somewhat agreeing. Furthermore, 30 percent of police personnel justify the use of third-degree methods against accused individuals in serious criminal cases. This justification often stems from a belief in dispensing “justice” directly and a perception of the public expecting aggressive law enforcement.
The report uncovers significant discrepancies and underreporting in official data concerning custodial deaths. In 2020 alone, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 76 custodial deaths, while the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recorded 90, and the National Campaign Against Torture (NCAT), a civil society organization, documented 111 cases. Notably, while NCAT data suggests that nearly half (46%) of custodial deaths in 2020 were allegedly due to torture, the NCRB attributed only one death to injuries sustained during police custody due to physical assault in the same year. The report emphasizes the lack of a reliable and consistent official source on custodial deaths.
Islamophobia in the police
It also reveals concerning indicators of Islamophobia within the police. The report highlights that significant proportions of police personnel hold biased perceptions against Muslims, with a considerable number believing that Muslims are “naturally prone towards committing crimes”.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.