Date:02/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/02/stories/2003010203830300.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Majority of encounters fake, alleges APCLC

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH Jan. 1. The police personnel killed 106 persons in 55 `encounters' and caused 30 custodial deaths in the State as part of the Government's policy making a mockery of lawful rule, alleged the A.P. Civil Liberties Committee leaders on Wednesday.

The APCLC district secretary, R. Shamir Basha, and the executive member, G. Muralikrishna, alleged in a statement that incidents of police torture and those committing suicide unable to bear the torture were many more. The Supreme Court, High Court and the National Human Rights Commission directed registering of cases under Section 302 of IPC against policemen participating in encounters, they said.

However, the Government did not ensure booking of even one case, notwithstanding its oft-repeated claims of transparent rule, they alleged. Of the 106 encounter victims, 70 belonged to various parties including 30 women. Thirty others were accused in dacoities, hired killings, kidnapping, ISI activities and petty cases and they were done to death in the name of encounters, they alleged.

The negotiations held between the People's War and the Government led to fall in political encounters, but most encounters were fake ones, the APCLC leaders alleged. They alleged that two dacoits, Lothuka Nagaraju of Masapet here and Kodati Venkatakrishna alias Zinnah were killed in encounters in the district. They called upon the democratic-minded persons to strive in the New Year to safeguard human rights and ensure a lawful rule.