The two incidents are listed to be taken up for hearing by the Full Commission of the NHRC, which began a three-day ‘Camp Sitting’ in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Wednesday.
The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of the two incidents. The commission had on April 7 issued a notice to the AP government, seeking a report on the killing of 20 people in police firing near Tirupati, observing that the incident “involved a serious violation” of human rights of individuals.
The NHRC issued a notice on April 9 to Telangana government seeking a report on the killing of five undertrials, who were allegedly associated with radical groups in Nalgonda district, while being taken in a police van to a Hyderabad court.
Meanwhile, speaking at the inaugural function of the 'Camp Sitting', NHRC Chairperson K G Balakrishnan said that about 98,660 complaints from various states were received by the commsission in 2014.
Noting that the commission has held similar hearings in different states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, he said the problems of the people are better understood when they visit the states.
The commission is aware that Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are dealing with issues related to bifurcation, but the rights of the people cannot wait for lack of infrastructure, he said.
"We are interested, especially, in those who are at the periphery of the society, whose voice is not heard. They are the marginal sections of the society. So, we are concerned with the rights of those people. Rich people can take care of their rights. But, what about the poor people?" he said.
Observing that the NHRC is a "recommendatory body," he said the governments and government servants need to ensure that rights of the people are protected.
Chittoor case: Govt submits re-autpopsy report to high court
The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday submitted to Hyderabad High Court the 're-postmortem' reports in sealed cover of six persons out of the 20 people who were killed in police firing in Seshachalam forests of Chittoor district on April 7.
A division Bench of Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar posted the matter to April 24, after they were informed that the FSL report pertaining to the 20 people killed in the firing was still awaited. The government had on Monday submitted to the High Court the first postmortem report. The ‘re-postmortem’ was sought by the family members of the six persons who alleged that the firing incident was a “brutal and planned murder” by the Special Task Force (STF) of Andhra Police.