SC panel visits encounter site near Hyderabad in Disha case
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Representational.
Earlier this week, a Supreme Court-appointed inquiry commission inspecting the site where four suspects were allegedly gunned down by police two years ago inspected Chatanpally, where the accused were shot. It is reported that the three-member judicial commission, whose investigation is in its final phase, visited Chatanpally, about 50 kilometers from Hyderabad.
Justice Rekha P. Sondur Baldota and Dr. D.R. Kaarthikeyan, both members of the V.S. Sirpurkar Commission, allegedly visited the site of an encounter where the four were accused of murdering and raping.
While the commission was visiting Shadnagar police station, a number of local residents staged a protest. They called for the investigation to be abandoned and justified the killings of suspects. 'Sirpurkar Commission go back' were among the slogans raised by protesters in front of the police station. The police dispersed the protesters.
During the commission's visit, extensive security arrangements were made. On the outskirts of Hyderabad, near the Tondupally toll plaza, where the veterinarian was allegedly killed and raped, the panel is also likely to inspect an open plot.
It is likely that on February 2, 2022, a report will be submitted to the Supreme Court after completion of its work in August. The commission interviewed many witnesses, police officers, and family members of the four men killed, as well as key officials of the Cyberabad police, including then-police commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, then-investigation officer Surender Reddy, and the Special Investigation Team.
As part of the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of four suspects, in this case, the panel was established on December 12, 2019. Investigators found the burned body of Disha (as the victim is called by the investigators) on the same highway where the four suspects were found dead.
Police claim Disha was kidnapped and assaulted near the Outer Ring Road on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the night of November 27, 2019. After the assault, the man murdered her, took the body to Chatanpally, then set it ablaze.
When hearing petitions that questioned the police killing of the accused in custody, the Supreme Court-appointed the panel.