NEW DELHI, DEC 12
The Supreme Court said there should be an “impartial inquiry” into the killings of the four men accused in the gang rape and murder of a veterinarian in Telangana on Thursday. SC appointed a three-member inquiry commission headed by former SC judge VS Sirpurkar to conduct probe into alleged encounter killing of four rape suspects in Hyderabad.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde was hearing two public interest litigations (PILs) seeking an independent probe into the deaths last week.
SC appointed a three-member inquiry commission headed by former SC judge VS Sirpurkar to conduct probe into alleged encounter killing of four rape suspects in Hyderabad. Other two members of the inquiry commission are former Bombay HC judge Rekha Baldota and former CBI Director D R Karthikeyan. SC directed the commission to complete probe within six months and file report before the court.
Meanwhile, SC stayed the proceedings initiated by Telangana HC and NHRC into Hyderabad encounter killing and directed that no other courts should entertain any plea pertaining to the case.
The Telangana government justified the encounter, saying the accused snatched two firearms and shot at a police party.
The bench observed that there are “aspects of your (Telangana) version which needed an inquiry”.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Telangana government, said no policemen had received bullet injuries but got injured in the attack by the accused who were using stone and sticks when they were taken to the spot where the veterinarian was murdered.
