NHRC directs AP govt to order magisterial probe into police firing

Directing Andhra Pradesh government to conduct a magisterial enquiry into the killing of 20 persons allegedly in police firing in Chittoor district, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday ordered the Tamil Nadu police to give protection to two persons from the state connected with the incident.

A statement released after the NHRC recorded statements of the two persons hailing from Tamil Nadu -- Sekar, 54, and Balachandar, 29, -- directed the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct a probe by a Judicial Magistrate.

"Ensure that names of all forest officials and police officials who were on duty and were part of the STF be submitted to the NHRC on or before April 22. Post-mortem, if any, of the dead persons may be conducted as per the guidelines issued by the NHRC," the statement added.

Asking Andhra Pradesh to ensure that all weapons allegedly used by the STF and the deceased persons be placed in safe custody, the NHRC also said that police register, log books and any other documents relating to the incident "shall not be destroyed, tampered with or weeded out during the pendency of the NHRC proceedings."

While deposing before the Commission members, the duo apprehended threat to their life and to their family members and relatives.

"Therefore, the Commission has directed that these two persons, their family members and relatives be given police protection by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu...

The police protection may be extended to the presidents of the panchayats also," the NHRC statement added.

The Commission has also decided to depute one of its officer's to record the statement of a third eyewitness Illangovan, who allegedly escaped from police firing, to record his statement.

Earlier, NHRC Chairman K G Balakrishnan said that he had directed recording of statements of two people, who claim that they were lured to Andhra Pradesh forests under the guise of employment elsewhere.

NHRC officials said the two had appeared before the human rights watchdog on their own.

While the NHRC had issued a suo moto notice to the AP government on alleged police action, the panel has received three other complaints demanding action over the April 7 police firing in which 20 persons were killed.