Hyderabad Encounter: Telangana Govt Sets up SIT for Investigation

The 4 were reportedly shot after they tried to escape while police had taken them to the spot to recreate the scene.

The four accused in the case were killed in an encounter on 6 December morning.

(Photo: AP)

The Telangana government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday, 8 December to probe into the encounter by police against the four accused who were involved in a woman veterinarian's rape and murder.

The SIT will be headed by Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat.

Meanwhile, a complaint was filed on Sunday against the Cyberabad police calling the encounter “fake.”

On Friday, 6 December, all four people accused in the rape and murder of a woman veterinarian in Hyderabad were killed in an encounter with the police. Cyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said had that the “law has done its duty.”

Earlier, while briefing the media, Sajjanar said the encounter took place when the accused were taken to the site of the crime on Friday morning, based on their confession to recover material objects – cellphone, power bank and watch.

Sajjanar said the accused snatched weapons from two officers and fired at them. “In retaliation, we opened fire and the four accused were killed,” he said.

“In this, two of our police officers got injured and they are being treated at a local hospital,” Sajjanar said.

The four accused were identified by the police earlier as Mohammed Areef (25), Jollu Shiva (20), Jolly Naveen (20) and Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu (20).

Telangana High Court has directed the state to preserve the bodies of the four accused till 8:00 pm on 9 December, ANI reported.

‘Happy That Justice Was Served So Soon’: Victim’s Family

The victim’s family reacted to the incident saying they were “happy” that the culprits were punished.

“We were shocked when we heard about it in the morning but we are also happy that justice has been served so soon. We are happy the culprits got punished," the family told The Quint.

‘Was Informed This Morning’: Accused’s Family

Meanwhile, speaking to The Quint after the news of the encounter broke, accused Areef's father said:

“They are saying he has been killed in an encounter. We got to know this morning only.”

Speaking to The Quint, Ibrahim, a neighbour of Areef, alleged that the incident was a “planned” one.

“All this has been planned. How can the police just kill all four of them. We do not believe it is an encounter,” he said.

The four men were arrested by the Cyberabad police last Friday and sent to a 14-day judicial remand.

Among the four accused, Cyberabad Commissioner V Sajjanar said that Areef has been identified as the prime accused. Police had registered a case under Sections 376 (punishment for rape), 302 (punishment for murder) and sections of the Nirbhaya Act.

NHRC Takes Cognisance, Orders Probe

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday took cognisance of the encounter and ordered an inquiry, PTI reported.

The apex human rights body in the country said the encounter was a matter of concern and needed to be probed carefully.

“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 NHRC said.

The team from the investigation division of the commission, headed by a senior superintendent of police (SSP), was expected to leave for Hyderabad immediately and submit its report at the earliest, the commission said.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)