Cheers for Indian police who shot dead 4 suspects in gang-rape case

SHADNAGAR, India－Police on Friday fatally shot four men suspected of raping and killing a woman in southern India, leading some to celebrate their deaths as justice in a case that has sparked protests across the country.

The men, who were in police custody and had not been formally charged with any crime, were taken to the crime scenes, both where the rape and killing are suspected of taking place and the spot where the woman's body was burned about half a kilometer away, according to Shreedharan, an official in the police commissioner's office who uses one name.

Prakash Reddy, a deputy commissioner of police in Hyderabad, said: "They were killed in the crossfire. They tried to snatch weapons from the guards but were shot dead."

He said the men died before any medical help could arrive.

The burned body of a 27-year-old veterinarian was found last week by a passer-by in an underpass in Hyderabad after she went missing the previous night.

The high-profile case has sparked protests across India. Last week massive demonstrations erupted after the charred body of the victim was discovered on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state. The protesters accused authorities and police of inaction.

About 300 people gathered on Friday at the crime scene in Shadnagar to praise police for killing the suspects.

Some hugged officers and lifted them into the air chanting "long live police", while others showered them with flowers.

But in New Delhi, some observers condemned the police killing.

"This type of justice is counterfeit," said Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association.

"The killings are a ploy to shut down our demand of accountability from governments, judiciary and police, and dignity and justice for women. We demand a thorough investigation into this," she said.

Maneka Gandhi, a lawmaker from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and a former Cabinet minister, accused police of taking the law into their own hands.

"They would've been hanged by a court anyway. If you're going to kill the accused before any due process of law has been followed, then what's the point of having courts, law and police?" she said.

Sexual attacks on women and girls in India put a question mark on their safety.

In December 2012, a fatal gang-rape of a medical student in New Delhi brought the spotlight on crimes against women in India.

The incident saw huge protests and resulted in new anti-rape laws in the country. However, brutal sexual attacks against women and girls continue to be reported across India.