Concept:
Custodial torture and custodial death are considered serious violations of human rights under both Indian constitutional law and international human rights principles.
Step 1: Evaluating Assertion A.
Assertion A claims that custodial torture and death are falsely treated as human rights violations. This statement is incorrect because torture and death in police custody directly violate the right to life and dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
Step 2: Evaluating Reason R.
The reason correctly states that some police personnel justify custodial violence as a "necessary evil" on the belief that hardened criminals only respond to force. Though legally unacceptable, this justification is often cited in criminological discussions.
Step 3: Checking the relationship between A and R.
Since Assertion A is false while Reason R correctly explains a viewpoint commonly expressed by some law enforcement officials, the correct answer is Option (4).
Step 4: Final conclusion.
Hence, Assertion A is incorrect but Reason R is correct.