Chittoor encounter: Court registers case under Section 302 IPC

The Andhra Pradesh Court on Wednesday has registered case under Section 302 IPC in the controversial killing of 20 alleged smugglers in the forests of Chittoor earlier this week.

"Tomorrow, there will be arguments on to whether a re-post-mortem to be ordered or not on the body. And, before that the Court said, you bring the autopsy report, so that they can go into that. Whether the allegation made are true or not will be seen tomorrow," lawyer K. Ragunath told media persons here.

"The matter has today again come up against the Honourable Division bench. The victim (who lost her husband) had appeared before the court and the court has seen her personal difficulty and consoled," he added.

"The case has been registered under Sec 302 IPC and court has categorically stated that investigation will be monitored by honorable High Court. We will demand to the court that investigation should be entrusted to independent agency like CBI," Raghunath added.

Earlier this week, the police in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district confirmed the encounter killing of at least 20 persons reportedly involved in the smuggling of Red Sanders trees.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary and the DGP of Andhra Pradesh, calling for an explanation for the act of the police and forest officials within two weeks. The matter shall be taken up for hearing in the camp sitting of the commission to be held at Hyderabad on April 23.