HC asks Telangana to file counter affidavit on gun battle

The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the Telangana government to file counter affidavit on a petition filed in connection with the killing of five undertrials by police on April 7.

The court took up hearing on a petition filed by Mohammed Ahmed, father of Viquar Ahmed, seeking registration of a criminal case against policemen involved in the killings. He also sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court while adjourning the hearing till April 23, asked the government to file the counter on various issues raised in the petition including on the plea for conducting a fresh autopsy.

The petitioner alleged that every undertrial received 15 bullets and claimed the autopsy was conducted in a hasty manner.

The court also wanted to know from the government if the police have registered a case on a complaint lodged by the petitioner with Aler police station in Nalgonda district.

Additional Advocate General informed the court that the government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Viquar Ahmed and four other undertrials were shot dead by the police near Aler on April 7 while bringing them to Hyderabad from Warangal Central Jail.

Police claimed that they tried to snatch weapons and escape. The families of the undertrials, have termed the encounter 'staged-managed' and alleged that the police killed them in cold blood.

Viquar and others, who were arrested in 2010, were facing charges of killing three policemen in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.