NHRC recommends CBI probe into Chittoor encounter

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday recommended a CBI probe into the killing of 20 woodcutters allegedly in a police firing in Andhra Pradesh last month, observing that there was “good ground” to think that there was “serious violation” of human rights. It also recommended a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the dependents in this case. 

NHRC’s recommendation came “considering the background of the victims, the delay in registration of an FIR, improvements made by the officers of the state government, nature of weapons allegedly seized from the spot, testimony of Sekhar, A Balachandran, M <g data-gr-id="13">Illango</g> and the reluctance of the state government to share even the basic information with the Commission”. These are “good grounds to think that there was <g data-gr-id="14">serious</g> violation of human rights of 20 people who were killed by STF personnel on April 7 in Sheshachalam forest of Chittoor district,” an NHRC statement said.