Hyderabad rape accused encountered: Country's top lawyers react

India woke up to the news of the four accused men in connection to the recent Hyderabad rape and murder case being encountered in the early hours of this morning. The nation has gone into a frenzy with the police's move who claim that the action was taken as part of self-defense, because the accused tried running away. DCP Shamshabad Prakash Reddy said the accused snatched a weapon and fired at the police during the crime scene re-construction. The police said that the men were killed while they were trying to defend themselves.

The victim's parents said they were happy that the accused got killed. The victim's sister said that this should be an example for other rapists in the country.

Joining the praises was Nirbhaya's parents, who lauded the police for taking prompt action.

Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP Shesh Paul Vaid congratulated the Telangana police in a tweet, and said they would be have been strongly criticised if they had allowed the accused to escape.

Top politicos have lauded the police action:

The BJP's Kapil Mishra, a Delhi leader formerly with the Aam Aadmi Party, thanked the Telangana police in a tweet. "This is the way to deal with rapists," he wrote. "Hope police of other states will learn from you."

Congress leader Khushboo resonated with his thoughts this morning.

While many citizens are lauding the Police action, man top lawyers are of the opinion that law and order was not followed in the scenario.

Advocate Vrinda Grover says what the police have done is "absolutely unacceptable", and that an FIR should be registered against them. She also says there must an independent judicial enquiry.

Top adovote Karuna Nundy took to Twitter to speak out her thoughts. In a thread, she wrote:

"Now nobody will ever know if the four men killed by the police were innocent men, arrested fast to show action. And whether four of the most brutal rapists roam free, to rape and kill more women.

There are so many people exulting over #EncounterNight, amongst them people who have lost faith in the slow court system and bad prosecution - Governments are squarely responsible. This needs to be a wake up call to:

1) Appoint more judges and police, after assessing them for gender orientation.

2) Strengthen investigation so the right people are caught, and fast

3) Bring in robust witness protection programmes

Be aware, the macho men dancing in the Twitter streets right now will also defend the right of husbands to rape in marriage -- the legality of marital rape -- and campaign against s498A.

It is no coincidence that it is women's rights lawyers -- we work hard in our daily lives to prosecute rapists and strengthen laws -- who are against the death penalty.

The Justice Verma Committee recommended that death penalty not be introduced for rape, at the very least it has no impact. Brutality invites more brutality. Incentives shift. Granting the death penalty in one individual, heartbreaking case might harm another woman.

And what on earth were the police 'investigating' at 3.30 am all this time later? When [sic] they were sleeping during the golden hour of evidence, refusing to register an FIR, when the young vet was alive?"

Many in the nation, today, have been feeling a sense of happiness for justice being done by the police.