NHRC directs police protection for two persons and their families who made a statement in connection with the alleged killing of 20 persons in police firing in Andhra Pradesh (13.4.2015)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 13th April, 2015
The NHRC recorded statements of two persons in connection with the alleged killing of 20 persons in a joint operation of special police and forest officials in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of the 7th April, 2015. They apprehended threat to their life and to their family members and relatives.
Therefore, the Commission has directed that these two persons, their family members and relatives be given police protection by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu. These two persons also stated before the Commission that they had given the statement pursuant to the help and assistance given by their respective Presidents of the Panchayats where they live. Therefore, the police protection may be extended to the Presidents of the Panchayats also.
Considering the gravity of the situation and the large number of persons involved in the incident, the Commission has also given the directions to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh that:
(1) A Magisterial Enquiry be conducted by a Judicial Magistrate 1st Class as laid down u/s 176 (1)(A) Cr.P.C.;
(2) Ensure that names of all forest officials and police officials who were on duty and were part of the STF be submitted to the NHRC on or before 22nd April, 2015;
(3) Post-mortem, if any, of the dead persons may be conducted as per the Guidelines issued by the NHRC;
(4) Ensure that all the weapons allegedly used by the STF and the deceased persons be placed in safe custody and;
(5) Police Register, Log Books, GD Entries and any other documents relating to the incident shall not be destroyed, tampered with or weeded out during the pendency of the NHRC proceedings.
It was submitted by the complainant that one more witness who is likely to provide details regarding the incident but he was unable to reach Delhi. The Commission has decided to depute one of its officers to record his statement in due course of time.
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New Delhi, 13th April, 2015
The NHRC recorded statements of two persons in connection with the alleged killing of 20 persons in a joint operation of special police and forest officials in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of the 7th April, 2015. They apprehended threat to their life and to their family members and relatives.
Therefore, the Commission has directed that these two persons, their family members and relatives be given police protection by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu. These two persons also stated before the Commission that they had given the statement pursuant to the help and assistance given by their respective Presidents of the Panchayats where they live. Therefore, the police protection may be extended to the Presidents of the Panchayats also.
Considering the gravity of the situation and the large number of persons involved in the incident, the Commission has also given the directions to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh that:
(1) A Magisterial Enquiry be conducted by a Judicial Magistrate 1st Class as laid down u/s 176 (1)(A) Cr.P.C.;
(2) Ensure that names of all forest officials and police officials who were on duty and were part of the STF be submitted to the NHRC on or before 22nd April, 2015;
(3) Post-mortem, if any, of the dead persons may be conducted as per the Guidelines issued by the NHRC;
(4) Ensure that all the weapons allegedly used by the STF and the deceased persons be placed in safe custody and;
(5) Police Register, Log Books, GD Entries and any other documents relating to the incident shall not be destroyed, tampered with or weeded out during the pendency of the NHRC proceedings.
It was submitted by the complainant that one more witness who is likely to provide details regarding the incident but he was unable to reach Delhi. The Commission has decided to depute one of its officers to record his statement in due course of time.
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