NHRC team visits encounter spots

Tirupati: The five-member team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which arrived in Tirupati to probe the Seshachalam encounter of April 7, visited the twin encounter spots of Cheekateegalakona and Eethakunta near Srivari Mettu forest area on Tuesday.

The team consisting of Pupul Dutta, R P Singh, Ravi Singha, Rajendra Singh and Mallappa, left for the encounter spot as early as 6 am in a bid to wrap up the inspection of encounter spots before mercury shoots up later in the day. It visited Cheekateegalakona where 11 alleged Tamil Nadu-based smugglers were gunned down and Eethakunta where another nine persons were gunned down by the joint forces of forest department and the red sanders anti-smuggling task force.

Speaking to media persons at Srivari Mettu on Tuesday, Pupul Dutta, who is leading the team, said they cannot elaborate much about their probe as the matter is sub judice and a parallel probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) was underway under the supervision of Hyderabad High Court.

“We are talking to all the officials concerned, including the police, forest department officials, red sanders anti-smuggling task force personnel, revenue department officials and are gaining as much inputs and documents as possible in connection to the Seshachalam encounter,”, said Pupul Dutta. He added, “We will submit our unbiased and comprehensive report to the NHRC.”