58 ... ... ... ... .. C I V I L L I B E RT I E S must be brought to book. In pursuing this matter, the Commission has remained in touch with Shri S.R. Sankaran, Convenor of the Committee of Concerned Citizens and leading NGOs of the State dealing with the defence of civil liberties. Clearly, there is need to break the cycle of violence that has continued for far too long and exacted too high a price in human life. The Commission is only too aware that this will not be easy to achieve, given the disruptive nature of the terrorism and violence that has, repeatedly, barred the road to peace. Yet it is necessary to persevere in spite of the odds. The Commission has, therefore, consistently welcomed all of the efforts made over the years to secure peace. It very much hopes that those endeavours will continue to be made and that they will succeed, despite the grave and often murderous provocations that occur. 4.49 In the present climate in which the threat of terrorism is pervasive and acts of terror are only too frequent and real, the Commission - in fulfillment of its duties under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 - has had to remain doubly vigilant to ensure that the Constitution and the Rule of Law are upheld, despite the evident dangers and difficulties. For reasons dwelt upon at length earlier in this report, the Commission cannot acquiesce in the view that extra-judicial killings should be taken for granted, or accepted as a norm of behaviour, even when it comes to dealing with those who are alleged to be terrorists. The Commission thus considered it necessary, for instance, to seek information in regard to what came to be known as the "Ansal Plaza shootout case" in New Delhi. Even in that instance, the Commission felt it was essential to draw the attention of the Delhi Police to the need to observe its guidelines in respect of the investigation of deaths occurring in police encounters. D] Systemic Reforms: Police 4.50 With every passing year, the evidence before the Commission mounts that there must be major police reforms in the country if the human rights situation is to improve, if the investigation work of the police is to be insulated from 'extraneous influences', and if the police is to regain the public trust that is essential for the proper discharge of its duties as a key element of the criminal justice system of the country. 4.51 The major areas where reforms are needed to ensure and restore the integrity of the police have been identified by this Commission, among others, N AT I O N A L H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N