NHRC for judicial probe into Chittoor firing; to send a team

In a tough stance on the firing incident in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in which 20 people were killed earlier this month, the National Human Rights Commission today strongly favoured conducting a judicial inquiry even as an NGO alleged that the killing was carried out with "approval" of the state leadership.
The Commission decided to send its own team to the scene in Seshachalam forests, near Tirupati, for on-spot investigation into the April 7 incident.
The Commission, which took suo motu cognisance of the incident and sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh government, took up the matter during 'a Camp Sitting' in states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh here.

The NHRC, after hearing the submissions made by the representatives of civil society and state government, directed the state government that mobile numbers of all the officials involved in the police action be submitted to it.
"We insist all enquiries by judicial (enquiry)," NHRC Chairperson K G Balakrishnan said during the public hearing.
Balakrishnan also directed that evidence such as the vehicle log books, etc, should be preserved.

He also asked the state government to furnish details of wireless communication relating to the incident and the medical reports regarding injuries sustained by police personnel.
The Commission also decided to send its own team for an inquiry at the spot, an official statement said.

Balakrishnan also said the version of witnesses can be recorded before a competent authority even in Tamil Nadu, from where the victims hailed.