The Supreme Court's latest landmark verdict against police's century-old discretionary powers concerning arrest, detention and remand is a bold judicial pronouncement in favour of people's liberty and fundamental rights.

Eminent jurists and human rights activists hailed yesterday's Supreme Court verdict, expressing the hope that it would stop the misuse of power by law enforcers regarding arrest, detention in custody, remand and interrogation.

The government's countrywide drive to arrest 'suspected troublemakers' in the wake of the recent killings of law enforcement agents and other subversive activities is giving out mixed signals.