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Police are the law keepers of the society. Their job is to keep the
situation under control, to catch the culprit and control violence but
their job is not to punish. They are not the authority that decides
which person deserves to be killed or punished. The police force is
accountable under the law and constitution and they too cannot take the
law in their own hands. Yet there are cases all over the world where
police has been known to step beyond their traditional role. Some forces
have occasionally put a toe across the line but others have gone many
steps across the line.
The police force was formed for the first time by a Muslim Caliph names
Umar al- Khattab (R.A). It was then known as “ash-shurta” and was headed
by a Head of Department much like the Highest Inspector nowadays. Its
role was peace-keeping but with time, the growing population and the
changing human psyche and its dynamics pushed police away from their
basic role. Now police is used as a brutal force to control brutality.
Though it is quite ironic, police is also very important.
Below are ten countries with the worst police brutality in the world.
Sorry to break your surprise but Pakistan tops the list. Read on…
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USA
Shocking as it may seem but the USA listed here as the country with the
most brutal police force particularly after 9/11. The aftermath of the
beginning of this war against terrorism, gave the police in the country
immunity against legal and civil rights of people (unconstitutionally in
few cases). Recently, there have been many killings because the police
“doubted” criminal activity. Innocent people are killed or executed
after biased trial because the police shows impunity with respect to
civil rights when it comes to their fight against terrorism. Most
killings involve black men. The names of Alton Sterling, Philando
Castile, and Gregory Gunn are notable when it comes to police killings.
Although, the country has world’s best police force! Surprised? |
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Brazil
Brazil was in the news a couple of years ago because of the Olympics
hosted in Rio de Janeiro. It was also covered because of the high
instances of worst police brutality in the country. It is very common
for the police to kill people when they are trying to control mobs and
illegal land occupations. They have a free ticket from the government to
control the situation as they want to. It is also not uncommon for
police to plant evidence in order to frame someone that they think is
not good for the society. There have also been racial and black men
killings in the process. Nearly all the deaths that are reported are
deemed self-defence. The problem is that police is trying to control
brutality with brutality so the gang war does not seem to abate. |
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Kenya
Kenya is an African country with prevalent problems and widespread
corruption. People took to the streets in 2016 against the government
and its corruption. But, they were dealt with severe resistance and
punishment by the law keepers. Protesting crowds were hit with clubs and
sticks. They were chased down the streets and the police resorted to all
gruesome measures to disperse the gathering crowd. Journalists told
anecdotes of how the police treated people like they were bales of
cotton. No wonder the people want a change. |
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Russia
Killings in police custody and violence by the police in Russia is so
common that it is hardly reported. People are prone to the police taking
any measures to reinstate their authority and power. One most recent
famous case is of the moderately successful band of the 1970s’ drummer
Sergei Pestov who was arrested from his own garage for alleged
possession of drugs. His wife had to identify his lifeless body the next
day. And, even though the police claimed that they had released him the
previous night, human rights activists think otherwise. |
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Somalia
The Somali police force like the country itself is in abysmal state-
torn by civil war. Over 1000 German trained police officers reportedly
disappeared and have allegedly joined an Islamist militia in 2009. The
force is underpaid and resorts to illegal measures to increase their
income. Rampage of private property and coercion of citizens for bribe
is common in the country. Also there have been reports of the police
turning away from crime and supporting injustice in return for financial
bribes. Attempts have been made to improve the state but hitherto there
has not been much success.
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Pakistan
Police in Pakistan has been known for its corruption as well as abusing
manners. It also has a reputation for extrajudicial killings. According
to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) data, as many as 3,345
people have been killed in police encounters from 2014 to May 2018. As
per the data, 6,610 male and 23 female and 12 minor victims were
encountered by the police during this period. Out of which 3,345 people
were killed.
There are numerous reported cases of police extrajudicial killings and
brutality in Pakistan. Some examples like; Model Town incident (14 +
protesters been killed by the police gunfire), killing of model
Naqeebullah Mehsud and much more. But, the incident that occurred on 19
Jan 2018, is by far the worst case of police brutality ever. The Punjab
police officials shot dead four persons, including; Muhammad Khalil, his
wife Nabeela, 13-year-old daughter Areeba and a neighbour Zeeshan in the
presence of three children.
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