HYDERABAD: Arguments of the petitioners - The AP Civil Liberties Committee and the families of those killed in Seshachalam encounter have concluded on Thursday. They urged the High Court to order CBI probe to bring out the facts in the encounter in which 20 alleged red sanders smugglers belonging to Tamil Nadu were shot dead on April 7 last year.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S V Bhatt heard the arguments.
Vrinda Grower, who appeared for one of the victims’ family, alleged that the SIT was not following the procedure while probing the case and that it has not issued second FIR in the case despite complaint by the victim’s kin. She contended that an FIR has to be registered against the police personnel involved in the encounter under Section 302 IPC based on the complaint of family members of the victims. Citing several judgments of the Supreme Court, Grower said the responsibility lies on the government to ensure “Rule of Law”.
Another counsel appearing for the victims’ families, D Suresh Kumar argued that the police are trying to dilute the present case.
V Raghunath, counsel appearing for the AP Civil Liberties Committee, alleged that there is no transparency in the ongoing probe by SIT. He contended that the persons those killed in the encounter were not smugglers but daily wagers. He said the police have no right to kill innocent people and brand them as smugglers. He described the encounters as “political killings”. He urged the court to order CBI probe as the police officer who is heading the SIT was a known encounter specialist.
The bench adjourned the case to February 4 to hear the arguments of the counsels representing the AP government and SIT.