"Does a policeman enjoy killing? Those killed are trying to get us. They aren't saints," said officer Pradeep Sharma, who police records say has shot dead 104 criminals.
Sharma is facing an inquiry on the disappearance of a suspect in a 2002 bomb blast in Mumbai. Human rights activists say the man, Khwaja Yunus, was killed in custody while police say he simply escaped.
"Many of these encounters are fake and killings by police extrajudicial," said criminal lawyer Majeed Memon.
Sharma's boss said the controversial tactics have yielded results.
"It's for all to see that stern police activity has curbed crimes," Mumbai police commissioner AN Roy said.
RSS