Andhra, Telangana police submit reports to NHRC on killings

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana police on Thursday submitted reports on the killings of 20 woodcutters in Chittor and five undertrial prisoners respectively to the NHRC.

The police officers of the two states appeared before National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) during the hearing on the two incidents that took place on April 7.

They submitted details of the gun battles and the subsequent action taken by the police. The NHRC is conducting a hearing on the two incidents in the wake of allegations by the families of the victims and the human rights groups that police murdered them in cold blood.

The Andhra Pradesh police, in its report, explained the circumstances which led to the killing of 20 woodcutters by the police in Seshachalam forests in Chittoor district.

Police claimed that the woodcutters hailing from Tamil Nadu were working for smugglers of red sanders and they attacked policemen, forcing them to open fire self-defence.

The NHRC members wanted to know why a judicial probe was not ordered. They were informed that the case is being heard by Hyderabad High Court. Telangana police submitted report about the April 7 incident near Aler in Nalgonda district. 

Police said five undertrial prisoners, who were being brought to Hyderabad from Warangal Central Jail, tried to snatch weapons and escape. It claimed that all the five were killed in an 'exchange of fire'.

Telangana government has already ordered a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT). The rights groups, however, are seeking inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or by a sitting judge of the high court.

Widow of Mohammed Haneef, one of the slain undertrials, on Wednesday met NHRC chairman K.G. Balakrishnan. She disputed the police claim that the undertrials tried to snatch weapons and said they were all handcuffed and chained to their seats in the police vehicle.

leaders of United Muslim Forum (MUF) and Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) also met NHRC chief and sought independent probe. They said a criminal case should be booked against the policemen involved.

NHRC is conducting a hearing on the two incidents on the second day of its three-day open hearing and public sitting here. On the first day, the commission took up 61 cases for hearing.