Haryana Police chief, KP Singh, on Thursday said people have the right to kill criminals, reported NDTV. However, he later denied it and said that he just wanted to spread awareness among people that they should intervene and engage with criminals if they witness any unlawful incident. "Only said if someone tries to rape a woman, there are sections in IPC which allows you to kill someone in self-defence," Singh clarified after widespread criticism, reported ANI.

"If someone destroys your house, or tries to take someone's life, the law allows a common man to kill the other person...this is something the common man doesn't know. This is not just a policeman's duty," the new Director General of the state police had said.

According to Singh, the common man has the right to kill a criminal who insults a woman or kills a person. "A person has the right under the law to use necessary force... for the purpose of protecting one's own body and property as also another's body and property when immediate aid from the state machinery is not readily available," he said. Singh took over charge from Yashpal Singhal, after the latter was removed from his post for failing to quell Jat quota protests in the state in February.