Clean chit to CI, SI in custodial death case

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 13. A Commission of Inquiry has exonerated the Circle Inspector and Sub-Inspector of Mahabubabad town police station in Warangal district for the custodial deaths of three persons in October 1998.

It found no specific evidence of the circumstances that led to the death of Srisailam Goud, Lingaiah and Devender. The only inference that could be drawn for their committing suicide may be the abuse they received from village elders. Unable to bear the abuses, they consumed monocrotophas, an insecticide which is available in plenty.

Mr. K. Padmanabha Goud, retired District and Sessions Judge, who conducted the inquiry, said it could be safely concluded from the post-mortem report and other evidence that no one is responsible for their deaths, much less the CI and the SI of the police station. The three were arrested in connection with a theft.

The Commission's report, which was tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday, said there were no lapses on the part of any authority in connection with the incident. In the action-taken report, the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, said the Cabinet had accepted the report.

Head constable indicted

The Government had ordered disciplinary action against a head constable on duty at S. Lingotham village of Choutuppal mandal in Nalgonda district on April 21, 1997, for opening fire at a mob and killing four persons and injuring three.

A Commission of Inquiry headed by Mr.A. Sanjeeva Rao, retired district and sessions judge indicted the head constable in its findings. This was disclosed in the Assembly by the Home Minister, Mr.T. Devender Goud, here on Tuesday.

The Commission felt that though the police could have opened fire with a view to protecting themselves, other methods could have been used before resorting to firing.

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Section  : Southern States
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