The investigation into the sensational Aler encounter reported more than five months ago on the borders of Warangal-Nalgonda district has come to a grinding halt.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by senior IPS officer Sandeep Shandilya, is still awaiting the crucial report from the ballistic experts. It has completed the basic investigation into the encounter.
Terror suspect Viqaruddin and four others were killed in a van in which they were being brought from Warangal prison to Hyderabad court ‘following an exchange of fire’ on April 4.
Allegations and criticism erupted over the killing with some charging that the chained prisoners were ‘murdered’ by the police escort party in the guise of encounter. Within a few days, the Telangana Government ordered a probe by the SIT comprising six police officials.
As the Government claimed that members of the escort party returned fire after ‘one of the prisoners grabbed a policeman’s firearm and pulled the trigger’, questions were raised how a handcuffed prisoner could have attacked the armed police party.
