The killing of eight prisoners belonging to an outlawed group hours after their escape from the high-security Central Prison in Bhopal during the festive season  has set off a chain reaction of fireworks that is unlikely to die down soon.

The eight under-trials, belonging to the Students’ Islamic Movement of India, had been charged with serious offences and were alleged to have been involved in the murder of policemen and in armed robberies. These chaps had also previously escaped from Jail and had been recaptured. While escaping, they killed a police guard who had tried to stop them.

The murder of their colleague was probably reason enough for the police to pursue the suspects and zero in on them within hours on the city’s outskirts. The locals supplied information, and the encounter took place in front of witnesses.

However, the dramatic events that took place subsequently are clouded in doubt. We tend to agree with the Hindu editorial that indicates that  as the official narrative does not quite hang together. The State government and the police have failed to provide a cogent explanation for the events of the day.

The TV channels have shown footage ostensibly of  some moments before and after the encounter, and this has invited charges that the encounter was ‘fake’.

Doubts have been raised whether the eight men were carrying any weapons. Did they pose an imminent danger to the police party? Were they about to surrender, having run out of options, when they were killed? One police officer’s claim that they had firearms and had attacked the police contradicts another officer’s version that they had no weapons.

The Madhya Pradesh government is  keen on an inquiry into the jailbreak to find out crucial details — such as who masterminded the escape, and whether there was any support from others in the prison or outside.

 It would be vital to know why the CCTV cameras, watchtowers and searchlights all mysteriously failed while the prisoners were scaling two high walls one after another.

There can be no justification, however, for the government’s stand that the encounter itself does not require an investigation any deeper than a routine magisterial inquiry.

 The Supreme Court has laid down that every police encounter has to be probed by the Criminal Investigation Department or any other independent police team. In this context, the  members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are out of line when they condemn  all those who doubt the official version. Such arrogance is indeed troubling.

Such doubt cannot and should not be interpreted as support for either the ideology or the violence perpetrated by those who escaped from prison.

There are principles of law and human rights involved which need to be explored. ‘Revenge’ killing and shooting in self- defense are two separate issues.

 Instead of expecting unquestioning acceptance from all quarters when issues of human rights and the rule of law are involved, the Centre would do well to advise the State government  to institute a thorough probe into the episode to quell all doubts and suspicions.

As one retired police officer said on NDTV ‘Justice must be seen to have been served’.

  crime, editorial, naked truth, terrorism