Making a delicate balancing act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said police must be seen to be fair in dealing with religious and ethnic minorities and pointed out that they were being questioned even while they lose their men.

The Prime Minister's remarks assume significance in the context of questions raised by political parties including its ally Samajwadi Party over the genuineness of the Batla House encounter in the capital in which two alleged terrorists and an Inspector of Delhi Police were killed.

While addressing top police brass of the country here, the Prime Minister said a major challenge before the police was restoring the faith of the people - specially those belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and the weaker sections - in the impartiality and effectiveness of the police.

"Today, aspersions are being made regarding police impartiality and capabilities, and while I recognise that much of this is motivated, you must face up to the reality that many are convinced that the police is less than fair. This is so even when policemen die in the line of duty," he said in an apparent reference to the Batla House incident.

Two persons allegedly involved in the serial blasts in Delhi were killed in an encounter with police on September 19 in which Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma also lost his life.

The incident triggered a political storm with Samajwadi Party questioning the authenticity of the encounter and demanding a judicial enquiry into it. Some Congress leaders and CPI-M too have made a similar demand while BJP sought Home Minister Shivraj Patil's resignation.