TIRUVANNAMALAI/DHARMAPURI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the April 7 Seshachalam ‘encounter’ in which 20 from Tamil Nadu were shot dead, on Monday held inquiries with four witnesses, three in Tiruvannamalai and another in Dharmapuri. The quartet was taken to Andhra Pradesh to ascertain the exact location from where they had claimed to have escaped on that fateful day.
In Tiruvannamalai, the SIT team, led by DIG of Police B V Ramana Kumar, took the three witnesses — Sekar (55), Ilango (20) and Balachandran (29) — to Andhra Pradesh for questioning. Special teams were also formed with each being assigned to enquire one witness.
In Dharmapuri, a 12-member SIT team landed in Chitteri hills and questioned Balachandar (27), an eyewitness to the encounter. Of the 20 ‘encounter’ victims, 7, including Balachandar’s father, hailed from the hills.
He was questioned about how the group travelled and also about their stay in AP. They also took him to Andhra Pradesh for further investigation.
Ravi, an advocate, People’s Watch Tamil Nadu, who accompanied the team, told Express that SIT has already questioned Balachandar and he had given a statement before the National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi. The AP government should ensure the safety of Balachandar, he added.
Meanwhile, the MDMK general secretary Vaiko said that the second SIT inquiry is nothing but an attempt to distort evidence.