The National Human Rights Commission on Thursday decided to send its own team for an on-the-spot investigation into the killing of 20 woodcutters in police firing in Seshachalam forest of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh earlier this month. Police claimed that those killed were red sanders smugglers.
The NHRC had earlier taken cognisance of the matter and recorded statements of two persons in connection with the incident. The Commission had ordered a magisterial inquiry as well as safe custody of weapons allegedly used by the Special Task Force and deceased persons, besides asking for names of all forest and police officials who were on duty and were part of STF.
Further to its April 13 order, the NHRC directed at its camp sitting in Hyderabad that the mobile phone numbers of all the officials involved in the police action and medico-legal reports of the police personnel injured in the action be submitted to it.
The Full Bench of the Commission conducted a public hearing on the matter at its two-day camp sitting in Hyderabad, organised for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States. According to the NHRC sources here, the Commission heard the submissions made by the representatives of civil society and the State government in the matter before passing the order.
The Bench comprised NHRC Chairperson Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and members Justice Cyriac Joseph, Justice D. Murugesan and S.C. Sinha.
The two persons who deposed before the Commission about the April 7 killings apprehended threat to their lives. The NHRC had ordered police protection to the two witnesses, their family members and relatives.
