Meerpet double murder puts focus on police response to threat complaints

The Meerpet double murder has renewed concerns over preventive policing after one victim reportedly complained of a threat to her life a day before the attack. Activists and advocates say police must treat such complaints as warning signals and intervene promptly.

HYDERABAD: The alleged failure of the police to act on a woman’s complaint about a threat to her life, a day before she was killed along with another woman in Meerpet, has once again brought the issue of delayed police response to potential threats and preventive policing into focus.

In the Meerpet double murder case, one of the victims had reportedly approached the police a day before the incident and submitted a written complaint expressing apprehension about a threat to her life. However, the police allegedly failed to take the complaint seriously or initiate preventive measures. The next day, their relative, Siddiquie, allegedly attacked the family, killing Niranjan B and Reshma, while another person, Yusuf, is battling for life in hospital.

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The incident has raised questions about whether timely intervention by the police could have prevented the deaths. Similar complaints have surfaced in the city, with people alleging that their pleas for protection against individuals threatening or intimidating them are often not treated with the urgency they deserve.

“Earlier, the Station House Officer or the sector Sub-Inspector would verify whether the threat was genuine and initiate safety measures. These included asking the complainant to remain at the police station until the other party arrived and the issue was resolved or attended to. Now, people are simply sent away with instructions to return in the evening or the next day,” said Majlis Bachao Tehreek spokesperson Amjedullah Khan.

City-based social worker and advocate SM Abdul Samad said complaints about individuals threatening people with knives or daggers were also not being taken seriously. “The police insist on evidence. It is as though they expect the victim to wait until the rival attacks with a knife before taking action. On receiving information, the police should verify the complaint, seize the weapon if found and register a case under the Arms Act wherever applicable. This is not happening,” he said.

Human rights activist Mohd Ishaq said the focus of policing appeared to be more on arresting suspects after violent crimes and holding press conferences than preventing such incidents.

He said early intervention was essential, particularly in disputes involving family members and relatives, where aggressive behaviour and repeated threats could indicate the possibility of violence. Police should identify warning signs, counsel the individuals involved, assess the threat and take appropriate preventive action before a dispute escalates into murder or serious assault.

The Meerpet incident has once again highlighted the need for police stations to treat complaints of threats to life as potential warning signals rather than routine petitions, and ensure that preventive policing is not reduced to a response after a crime has occurred.