In due course the term "Encounter Expert" has acquired a pejorative ring. The truth is that there is no such term as "Encounter Expert" in the police lexicon except that some police officers who are better than others at raising sources amongst the bad characters and planning traps and ambushes than others are selected and assigned to do the job in a lawful manner. This is done as and when there is a public outcry against the repeated crimes of individuals or groups of bad characters.

More often than not such police officers that show a flair for cracking criminal gangs and nabbing criminals are cut above others. They are brave, courageous, daring and risk takers. But as strong horses need strong riders, these brave men need strong handlers. In the absence of strong handlers they are likely to run amok and in their over enthusiasm do unlawful things and bring dishonour to the police service. It is a failure of leadership.

It is necessary that these brave people be kept on a tight leash and under an upright commander who abides by the rule of law. If they go astray the fault lies with the system that gives them a long rope and tends to overlook their weaknesses like amassing illegal wealth through unfair means and/ or indulging in rank lawlessness in the name of encounters.

Other factors that lead them astray are the absence of effective and efficient criminal justice system and the profuse public adulation and acclaim that follows their successful strikes against brigands/mafia. The two together provide them further justification for the cover-ups and indulging in unlawful activities.

The more they seem in line with the people's acceptance the bolder they become in transgressing the law.

Continuous monitoring of their activities by upright superiors is, therefore, inescapable. "An open house tempts even a saint" goes an old adage.

The solution to the problem lies in strong and upright leadership and an efficient criminal justice system.

Unfortunately, the two foregoing elements have been missing and above all there has been popular sanction for their activities by the harassed people. This situation provides excellent soil and climate for the likes of late Rajbir Singh, Daya Nayak and Pradeep Sharma to thrive, at times go astray and sometimes meet the unfortunate end that Rajbir Singh did. The last named was awarded 6 gallantry medals in a period of 12 years. It should be a record. There was public acclaim and he was much feared. He grew bigger by the day. There appeared to little oversight and scrutiny of his extra police activities.

The need of the hour is to reform the criminal justice system, which is in a shambles and corruption ridden.

So long as this doesn't happen and the police leadership is freed from undue political pressure to produce results sadly enough the Encounter Experts will continue to rule the roost and the tragedies like that of Rajbir Singh will continue to take place.