NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 6
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the killing of four rape-murder accused in an alleged police encounter early Friday morning. The four were arrested by the police in connection with the rape and murder of a young veterinary doctor last week.
According to the police, all four accused were taken to the scene of the crime around 60 km from Hyderabad for a re-construction as part of the investigation. One of them signalled to the others, possibly to escape and they tried to snatch weapons from the police personnel when the police fired on them and they died allegedly in cross firing.
“The Commission is of the opinion that this matter is required to be probed very carefully. Accordingly, it has asked its Director General (Investigation) to immediately send a team for a fact finding on the spot investigation into the matter. The team of the Investigation Division of the Commission headed by an SSP, is expected to leave immediately and submit their report, at the earliest,” said NHRC in a statement Friday noon.
It further said: “Death of four persons in alleged encounter with the police personnel when they were in their custody, is a matter of concern for the Commission. The Commission is aware that growing incidents of sexual assault and violence against the women has created an atmosphere of fear and anger amongst the public at large but loss of human lives even of a person arrested by the police under law, in such circumstances, would definitely give a wrong message to the society.”
“The deceased had been arrested by the police during investigation and a judgment in the matter by the competent court was yet to be pronounced. If, the arrested persons were actually guilty, they were to be punished as per law pursuant to the directions of the competent court.”
However, it added that the incident “clearly indicates that the police personnel were not properly alert and prepared for any untoward activity by the accused on the spot, which resulted into death of all four.”
The rights panel urged the police to keep human rights angle in their view.
“The Commission has been insisting upon all law enforcing agencies to keep human rights angle in their view while dealing with the persons arrested by them or being kept in their custody. The right to life and equality before law are the basic human rights recognized and granted by the Constitution of India,” it said.
Now, demand for same justice for Unnao rape accused
While the whole episode has opened a floodgate of reactions both in favour and against of such brutal killings, people now want the same treatment to be meted to out to the accused in the Unnao gang rape case.
Emulate Hyderabad police,, says Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Friday commended Telangana Police for its encounter killing of the four accused in the rape of veterinarian and said police in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi police can take inspiration. She also slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in UP for not doing enough for the safety of the women.
Telangana policemen on the encounter site in Hyderabad in the wee hours of Friday . -NE photo
