Seshachalam Encounter: HC Seeks Forensic Reports by September 29

The bench permits the SIT to take experts help for analysing data of mobile phones of personnel involved in encounter

HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday directed the forensic science experts to complete tests, including the DNA tests, and submit a report to it by Sept 29 in the Seshachalam encounter case.

Twenty alleged red sander smugglers belonging to Tamil Nadu were killed in an alleged encounter in the Seshachalam forest in Chittoor district on April 7 this year.

The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S V Bhatt was dealing with petitions filed by C Chandra Shekar of the Civil Liberties Committee and others seeking directions to register a murder case against the policemen involved in the encounter and also to form a fresh SIT (Special Investigation Team) as they had doubts over the present members’ track record.

The counsel appearing for the AP told the bench that the Additional Advocate General of AP will appear for the SIT and another counsel will for the AP government.

Raising an objection to this, the counsel for the families of the deceased and rights organisations contended that an independent counsel ought to appear for the SIT and Additional AG, who was arguing the case on behalf of the state government till now, cannot argue the case on behalf of SIT.

A petitioners’ counsel even said that the court was being ‘liberal’ in granting time to the SIT which was not completing investigation within the time fixed by the court.

While disapproving the tone and tenor of the arguments of the counsel, the bench asked the AP government counsel to inform the court by 4 pm about the status of investigation and the proposed course of further action.

When the bench resumed its hearing in the evening, the government counsel informed that the call data has to be analysed by the experts and the SIT authorities are also waiting for the forensic reports.

The bench permitted the SIT to take the assistance of experts for analysing the data of mobile phones of the personnel involved in the encounter.

The bench posted the matter to Sept 29 for further hearing.Material pertaining to the present case status and investigation was submitted to the bench in sealed covers.

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