NHRC favours judicial enquiry into Chittoor encounter

The National Human Rights Commission on Thursday strongly favoured a judicial enquiry by Andhra Pradesh Government into the Chittoor police firing incident, and decided to send its team for an on spot investigation.

The NHRC, which conducted a 'camp sitting', said it was mandatory under law to conduct judicial enquiry into incidents like the killing of 20 people in the police firing in Seshachalam forest near Tirupati on April 7.

The Commission, after hearing the submissions made by the civil society and state government representatives, directed the state government that mobile numbers of all the officials involved in the police action be submitted to it.

"We insist all enquiries by judicial (enquiry)," NHRC Chairperson KG Balakrishnan said during the course of the public hearing. Balakrishnan directed that the details of the incident such as vehicle log books should be preserved.

He also asked the state government to furnish details of wireless communication relating to the incident, and also submit medical reports regarding injuries sustained by police personnel in the incident. The Commission has also decided to send its own team for an inquiry at the spot, an official statement said.

Balakrishnan also said the version of witnesses can be recorded before a competent authority even in Tamil Nadu, from where the 20 people hailed. People's Watch, a human rights NGO, submitted that the witnesses are not feeling safe in Andhra Pradesh and demanded that they be provided security.