Tribunal probe into Basheerbagh firing irks police assn.

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 5. The Andhra Pradesh Police Officers' Association (APPOA) on Tuesday opposed the enquiry into the police firing at Basheerbagh conducted by the People's Human Rights Tribunal in the City terming it a ``private enquiry'' and the one ``lacking legal sanctity.''

Addressing a press conference here, the association president, Mr. B. Mahboob Saheb, questioned the need for such an enquiry when the matter was being looked into by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Hyderabad District administration. Apart from misleading the public, the depositions made before the commission by certain persons were aimed at maligning and demoralising the police force, he alleged.

Mr. Saheb also denied charges that police used excessive force on people agitating against the hike in power tariff at Basheerbagh. Some anti-social elements who found their way into the agitating crowd, began pelting stones on the police and made a bid to put police vehicles and a petrol filling station on fire. ``The police showed utmost restraint before swinging into action,'' he said.

The association general secretary, Mr. R. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, said that firing on the rampaging mob was resorted to only after exhausting the possibilities of controlling them with lathicharge and the use of water cannons. He rejected the allegations of police misbehaving with women protestors and the absence of women police personnel.

The association charged civil liberties activists with shielding the naxals. Offering to cease police action against the naxals for six months, the association president, Mr. Saheb, sought a reciprocation from the activists to the gesture. ``We will stop action including combing and encounters for six months. Let these activists come forward and convince the naxals to surrender or appear before the courts. If needed, our association will convince the DGP and the Chief Minister on the proposal,'' he argued.

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Section  : Southern States
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