Ramayampuram Venkatesh and Putti Nagabushanam were shot dead by the police on the outskirts of Nirmal Town in Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh on the 18th October, 2003. The police claimed that both were robbers and they were moving around in suspicious circumstances with their associates. When accosted by the police, they started pelting stones and tried to escape. The police was compelled to open fire in self-defence. Disagreeing with the police version, the NHRC observed that mere pelting of stones could not be a justification for opening fire at them. In response to a show cause notice of the Commission, the Andhra Pradesh Government decided to pay an ex-gratia of rupees one lakh each to the next of kin of both the deceased. However, considering this amount grossly inadequate for the loss of human life, the Commission recommended that State government pay Rupees five lakh each to the next of kin of both the deceased.