'People Have The Licence To Kill If...' Haryana Police Chief's Shocker

Chandigarh: The common man has the right to kill criminals, Haryana's police chief has said in remarks that are certain to be misread as supportive of vigilantism.

At a public event on Thursday, KP Singh, the state's new Director General of Police, said people didn't realise that the law gives them the right to kill if they witness a crime.

"If someone destroys your house, or tries to take someone's life, the law allows a common man to kill the other person...this is something the common man doesn't know. This is not just a policeman's duty," Mr Singh said.

"If someone insults a woman or tries to kill a person, then the common man has right to take the criminal's life."

The comments are being seen by many as imprudent in a state where days of clashes on the streets during the Jat agitation for quota in jobs and education left 30 dead and over 300 injured earlier this year.

Mr Singh quoted provisions in the law to explain that though it is the job of the police to maintain law and order, common citizens too have rights.

"A person has the right under the law to use necessary force... for the purpose of protecting one's own body and property as also another's body and property when immediate aid from the state machinery is not readily available," said the top officer.

A lawmaker of the state's ruling BJP, Prem Lata Singh, was present on the stage when the police chief made the comments.

Mr Singh recently replaced Yashpal Singhal, who was severely criticized for his handling of the Jat quota protests.

A former police officer said Mr Singh had simply spelled out the right to private defence.

"He will not talk loose. If the police is not there you have the right to defend yourself," said former Uttar Pradesh police chief Prakash Singh.