ALL FOUR RAPE AND MURDER ACCUSED SHOT DEAD BY POLICE...Hyderabad vet rape-murder case LIVE Updates: Accused ‘snatched’ weapons from cops, says Cyberabad Commissioner

Cyberabad Police Commissioner CV Sajjanar. (ANI photo)

ENS | Hyderabad | December 6, 2019 : The National Human Rights Commission ordered an inquiry after the Telangana Police shot dead all four accused in the rape and murder of a Hyderabad veterinarian in the early hours of Friday. Police said the four were taken to Chatanapally— where they had burnt the woman’s body — for crime reconstruction, when they allegedly tried to escape by attacking the cops.

The police alleged that one of the four accused had gestured to the other three to flee after attacking the cops. The four tried to run towards a deserted pathway when cops opened fire in self-defence, an official told The Indian Express. “Will the police just watch if the accused attack them?” asked Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar.

Officials said that they had taken the four accused after midnight to reconstruct where they had stopped to buy petrol and to see the place where her two-wheeler was disposed. ” Another reason we decided to take them out at night was to “avoid any confrontation with the public,” an official said.

Incidentally, this is the second such encounter in Telangana, where those accused of crime against women, have been shot dead while allegedly trying to escape from police custody. In December 2008, three accused of acid attack were killed by Warangal Police when they tried to attack the cops at the crime scene. V C Sajjanar, the present Police Commissioner of Cyberabad was SP of Warangal at that time.

Snatched weapons were in "unlocked" position: V C Sajjanar

On being asked about how the accused managed to fire as guns have a safety lock, Commissioner V C Sajjanar said that the snatched weapons were in "unlocked" position, news agency PTI reported.

Law has done its duty: VC Sajjanar

Cyberabad CP, VC Sajjanar on today's encounter: I can only say that law has done its duty.

Two cops were injured: Commissioner V C Sajjanar

Addressing the media on today's "encounter", Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said, "After the accused confessed, they were brought to the location to recover material evidence. That is when they snatched police weapons and tried to fire."

He said that after being attacked, the police retaliated. Two police personnel were also injured during the operation. However, he said that the injured cops received head injuries and not bullet injuries. 

  

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NHRC orders probe in Hyderabad 'encounter'

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo moto cognizance of the killings in Hyderabad. The NHRC has ordered a probe in the incident and will send a fact-finding team to the site.

   

TRS MP expresses surprise over Hyderabad 'encounter'

TRS Parliamentary Party leader and Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao expressed surprise over the alleged encounter in Hyderabad. "Whatever government has to do (with regard to the encounter) it will do. (Those) four persons were killed and the people are happy. The question is if the punishment comes through the court it would have been better," Keshava Rao told reporters in New Delhi.

"We have appointed fast-track court for the trial of the case. We thought that the judgement (from the special court) would have come in a month's time," he added. He said, "We never thought that they would try to escape and this (encounter) would happen". Asked whether they were intentionally encountered, he said: "that is your view". Whether the government would order an inquiry into the encounter, he said: "they must be doing it." (PTI)

Never thought of killing December 16 gangrape accused, followed the law: Ex-Delhi Police chief

Former Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar, who handled the Nirbhaya gangrape-and-murder case, on Friday said the thought of killing the accused never crossed his mind. "There was a lot of pressure at that time, but the thought of killing them never came. We were getting messages, asking us to throw the accused in front of hungry lions. But we followed the law," he told PTI over phone.

   

Hyderabad 'encounter': What NHRC, Supreme Court have said on extra-judicial killings

While several voices, including senior officials and public figures, have hailed the killing by police of all four accused in the Hyderabad rape-murder case early on Friday, questions have also been raised over the legality and propriety of the police action. Extra-judicial or “encounter” killings have been a contested and divisive police procedure for decades. This is what the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Supreme Court have said on the proper procedures to be followed during such action by police.

  

'We salute u': Saina Nehwal tells Hyderabad Police

Hyderabad Shuttler Saina Nehwal praised Hyderabad police for killing all four accused in the rape and murder of a veterinarian in Telangana. "Great work Hyderabad Police ..we salute u," Nehwal tweeted.

Unbiased inquiry in Hyderabad 'encounter' should take place: Sharmistha Mukherjee

Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee raised questions over the killing of all the four accused in the Hyderabad rape-and-murder case. "If the police version is right that they (accused) wanted to flee, then you cannot allow those who have committed such heinous crimes to get away," said Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee. "But, on the other hand, there was a lot of public outrage and public pressure on the government. If the government has taken any step under public pressure that could be an extrajudicial killing, then that is a very dangerous situation for the country because it will set a precedent," she said.

There should be an "unbiased inquiry" so that people are convinced that this is not a state encounter, Mukherjee said.

   

Hyderabad rape-murder accused deserved to be shot dead: YSRCP leader

Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, YSR Congress Party said, "They deserved to be shot dead. God has been kind that they were shot dead, this is a good lesson. They tried to run away and they were killed. No NGO should oppose it and if they do so, they are anti-national."

   

Hyderabad 'encounter' brings V C Sajjanar back in limelight

Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar is back in the limelight with Hyderabad 'encounter'. A 1996 batch IPS officer, Sajjanar was Superintendent of Police of Warangal in 2008 when police shot dead three youths who threw acid on two engineering college girls who succumbed later. Sajjanar was lauded as a hero and no inquiry was ordered to investigate the circumstances of the encounter.

Before being posted as Cyberabad police commissioner, Sajjanar was IG of Special Intelligence Branch, the anti- Naxalite unit. During his stint there Sajjanar was credited for arrest or surrender of several top Maoists and encounter of senior Maoist leaders. In August 2016, Greyhounds, the elite anti-naxal operations unit headed by Sajjanar shot dead Maoist turned gangster Mohammed Nayeemuddin on the outskirts of Hyderabad when he allegedly tried to attack police and flee when they went to arrest him.

   

As you sow, so shall you reap: Meenakshi Lekhi on Hyderabad 'encounter'

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi in Parliament welcomed the killing of accused in Hyderabad. "Jaisi karni, waisi bharni. If the accused are trying to flee away and attack the cops, the police have no option. Unhe bandooke sajane ke liye nahin dee gayi hai. Further investigations will be carried out,"

   

What Hyderabad Police did is courageous: Baba Ramdev

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev called the Hyderabad Police's action "courageous." " What police has done is very courageous and I must say that justice has been delivered. Legal questions over it are a different matter, but I am sure people of the country are at peace now," he told news agency ANI

   

Hyderabad encounter not justice but ploy to shut down accountability: Activist Kavita Krishnan

According to Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association, this is not justice but a "ploy" to shut down demands for accountability from the police, judiciary, governments, and justice and dignity for women. "Instead of being accountable to his job and answering our questions about his government's failures to safeguard women's rights, the Telangana CM and his police have acted as leaders of a lynch mob," she said.

She described the incident as the admittance of utter incompetence and failure of criminality on the part of the entire political and police system and accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of deflecting the "whole issue". "We are asking tough questions to the police and to the government. In order to avoid answering these questions it is an attempt to say justice has been done," she said.

   

Cannot take law in your hands: Maneka Gandhi said

"Jo bhi hua hai bohot bhayanak hua hai is desh ke liye, you cannot kill people because you want to. You cannot take law in your hands, they(accused) would have been hanged by the court anyhow," BJP leader Maneka Gandhi said. 

  

Worried about people losing faith in criminal justice system: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "The rape cases that have come to light of late, people are in anger whether it is Unnao or Hyderabad, so people are expressing happiness over the encounter. It is also something to be worried about, the way people have lost their faith in the criminal justice system. Together all the governments will have to take action on how to strengthen the criminal justice system."

   

Justice has been done, says Chhattisgarh CM on Hyderabad encounter

"When a criminal tries to escape, police are left with no other option, it can be said that justice has been done," Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said

Hyderabad rape-murder case: Timeline of events

While you were sleeping, the Telangana Police killed all the four accused in the Hyderabad rape-murder case in what it claimed to be an encounter in the wee hours of Friday. Here is what has happened since the Hyderabad veterinarian's rape on November 27. Read more

   

Hyderabad encounter will act as deterrent to other criminals: Rabri Devi

RLD leader Rabri Devi said the police action today will act as a deterrent to other criminals. "What happened in Hyderabad will act as a deterrent against criminals surely, we welcome this. In Bihar as well, cases of crimes against women are increasing. The state Govt here is lax and doing nothing," she said, news agency ANI reported

  

How the ‘encounter’ with Telangana Police unfolded

* Post midnight on Friday morning, the Telangana Police took the four accused to Chatanpally, around 30 kilometre from Hyderabad, where the veterinarian’s body was set ablaze and dumped on November 27. The police said the recce would help them reconstruct the sequence of events that took place on the night of the crime

* The police wanted to take the accused to the spot where they purchased petrol to burn the victim’s body, and to the place where her two-wheeler was disposed of. The police said the accused were taken on the recce in the middle of the night “to avoid confrontation with the public”

* The police said that on reaching Chatanpally, the four accused gestured to each other to attack the cops and flee. After attacking the police, the four ran towards a deserted pathway, said the police.

   

Better late than never: Jaya Bachchan on the encounter in Hyderabad rape-murder case

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan who had suggested public lynching for the Hyderabad rape-murder accused welcomed the killing of four men today. "Der aaye, durust aaye...der aaye, bohot der aaye..(Better late than never)."

  

Extra-judicial killings are otherwise unacceptable: Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor said extrajudicial killings were not acceptable. "Agree in principle. We need to know more, for instance, if the criminals were armed, the police may have been justified in opening fire preemptively. Until details emerge we should not rush to condemn. But extra-judicial killings are otherwise unacceptable in a society of laws," he tweeted.

India not banana republic, bound by Constitution: Telangana BJP

The Telangana BJP Friday issued a statement on the alleged police encounter asking the government and police to address the media with the sequence of events at the earliest. "BJP feels Hyderabad encounter incident is still premature to react. These are just initial media reports and the Telangana DGP should make an official statement outlining the entire incident timeline. As a responsible national party BJP will react only after official police statement," K Krishna Saagar Rao, chief spokesperson, BJP Telangana State said. "The gangrape and murder of the woman is a horrendous crime, BJP has condemned it, and as a responsible opposition party has also pressured the Telangana government to act and bring the accused to justice. However, India is not a banana republic and is bound by legal and constitutional framework. Politics over crime, cannot set a right precedence," he said

Telangana: Locals shower rose petals on cops, hail CM KCR

Locals in Hyderabad congratulated police and hailed slogans 'Jai KCR, police zindabad.' They also showered petals at the Police personnel at the spot where the accused were shot deadHyderabad: Locals had showered rose petals on Police personnel at the spot where accused in the rape and murder of the woman veterinarian were killed in an encounter earlier today (Express Photo: Rahul V Pisharody)

UP Police, Delhi Police should take inspiration from Hyderabad cops: Mayawati

Reacting on the killing, BSP chief Mayawati said the Uttar Pradesh Police should take inspiration from their counterparts in Telangana. "Crimes against women are on the rise in Uttar Pradesh, but the state government is sleeping. Police here and also in Delhi should take inspiration from Hyderabad Police, but unfortunately, here criminals are treated as state guests, there is jungle raj in UP right now."

   

Great job, says mother of December 16 gangrape victim; says no action should be taken against cops

Asha Devi, mother of the December 16 2012, gangrape victim, also backed the cops saying that the "police has done a great job". "I am extremely happy with this punishment. Police has done a great job and I demand that no action should be taken against the police personnel," she told news agency ANI. "I have been running from pillar to post for the last for years. I appeal to the justice system of this country and the government, that my daughter's culprits must be hanged to death, at the earliest," she further said.

   

Tight police security at 'encounter' scene

As news of the 'encounter' spread, hundreds of people gathered outside Cyberabad Police Commissionerate and raised slogans praising police. People also hailed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for doing justice

Hyderabad: Heavy police presence at the spot where accused in the rape and murder of the woman veterinarian were killed in an encounter earlier today.  #Telangana

   

Hyderabad rape-murder case accused killed: Should have happened as per law, says NCW chairperson

National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma said that while people are celebrating the killing, the police should be guided by the principle of Constitution. "As a common citizen, I am feeling happy that this was the end we all wanted for them. But this end was supposed to be through the legal system. It should have happened through proper channels. We always demanded the death penalty for them, and here the police are the best judge, I don't know in what circumstances this happened," she said.

   

Police did well by shooting the accused: Hyderabad vet's father

Hours after reports emerged of the accused being killed by police, the victim's father expressed gratitude to the cops. "We have been spending sleepless nights. Not only the family but people of Hyderabad and entire country are angry. Those criminals tried to escape and police did well them shoot them," he said. As the news of the encounter spread, hundreds of people gathered outside Cyberabad Police Commissionerate and raised slogans praising the police. People also hailed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for doing justice. 

   

Accused showed no remorse, did not realise magnanimity of crime: Cyberabad Police

Cyberabad Police officials claimed that the four accused showed no remorse and probably planned to make a bid to escape. "We arrested them on November 29 and they were at Shadnagar police station till November 30. We brought them for interrogation on police remand on December 4. They never showed any remorse. They even failed to comprehend the magnanimity of their crime. It is possible they had planned to make an attempt to escape thinking at least one or two of them would be able getaway in the darkness," an official said.

Cyberabad Police Friday morning shot dead all the four accused in the rape-murder of Hyderabad veterinarian. 

The 27-year-old veterinarian, went missing from Shamshabad toll plaza, near Hyderabad, on November 27.

The rape and murder of the 27-year-old veterinarian had triggered outrage across the country. When it was raised in Parliament, members had suggested measures like lynching and death penalty for the accused.

The four accused, arrested on November 29, were in judicial custody and lodged in high-security cells at Cherlapally Central Prison. They were charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 375 (rape) and 362 (abduction). On Wednesday, the Telangana government set up a fast track court to try the four accused in the case. The court of First Additional District and Sessions Judge in Mahabubnagar district had been allotted the case.

Expressing gratitude to the Telangana Police, the victim's father told news agency ANI, "It has been 10 days to the day my daughter died. I express my gratitude towards the police & govt for this. My daughter's soul must be at peace now."

The veterinarian went missing from Shamshabad toll plaza, near Hyderabad, on November 27. The four accused raped and then burnt her to death, the police have said. Her burnt body was recovered the following day.

As per the initial probe, the four had "hatched a plan" to ambush the victim after she returned from work to pick up her scooter from Tondupally toll plaza. After the accused deflated the tyre, two others offered to help her. When she agreed, they dragged her into the bushes barely 50 metres from Tondupally toll plaza, behind a line of trucks that obscured visibility from the road, police said. The accused, after killing her, took her body to an under-construction bridge in Chattapally, a few kilometres away, where they set it on fire, the police said.

The police were criticised for making the family members of the victim run around over jurisdiction. The family had also alleged that had the cops took note of their complaint and taken action immediately, she might have been saved. The sub-inspector, as well as two head constables of Shamshabad police station, were suspended for dereliction of duty.