Encounter of undertrials

The incident at Alair on 7th April, where five under trials were encountered en route to Hyderabad by the Telangana has created a stir among the people.

Police say the five prisoners attacked the police personnel and snatched away weapons to open fire, and the other policemen killed them on the spot. However, this narrative of police raises several questions – how can the men overpower police when they were handcuffed and chained to their seats? How come no policeman sustained injuries if at all they were attacked? Several political parties, religious organisations, social groups and students' unions registered their protest condemning the act of state police. Welfare Party of India represented a memorandum to Home Minister, demanding a CBI or sitting judge inquiry into the encounter. MIM chief led a delegation of Muslim religious leaders to the TS CM and sought a similar inquiry. Various other political parties also criticised the way the TS police encountered the five under trials. Finally, the government agreed to constitute a Special Investigation Team led by IPS officer Sandeep Shandilya. It is hoped that the SIT would undertake a thorough investigation and pinpoint culprits.

Md Khaja Moinuddin