Preserve bodies of Maoists slain in encounter at Eturunagaram: HC to police

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Station House Officer of Eturunagaram in Mulugu district to preserve the bodies of seven persons, members of the the outlawed CPI-Maost who were killed in an exchange of fire with the police the previous day, at the area hospital of Eturunagaram till Tuesday.

Hearing a writ petition filed by K. Ilamma, wife of one of the slain Maoists Mallaiah, by way of lunch motion, the judge directed the police to permit the petitioner to see her husband’s body. The petitioner informed the bench that she learnt about the ‘police encounter’ at Chalpakka forest in Eturunagaram through TV and web-based news channels. She told the court that she realised that her husband was also killed in the encounter on seeing his pic among those of the seven slain persons.

The petitioner’s counsel Suresh Kumar, presenting his contentions, said the petitioner learnt from Civil Liberties Committee general secretary N. Narayana Rao that police ensured food laced with poison was served to the seven persons who were gunned down by police after they fell unconscious. Photos of the persons killed in the encounter suggested that they were tortured before being shot dead, the counsel said.

The petitioner wanted the HC to instruct the police to register murder case under Section 103 of BNS into the alleged police encounter and constitute a Special Investigation Team for fair probe. Ms. Ilamma also requested the court to order a Special Team of Forensic Doctors from MGM Medical College of Warangal to conduct post-mortem examination as per the directions of National Human Rights Commission while preserving viscera and clothes of the killed persons.

She requested the court to conduct inquest for the PME in her presence and call for records of general diary of the police station, First Information Report and autopsy report for adjudication of the matter. Lawyer Suresh Kumar sought to know why the police had hurriedly conducted autopsy of the bodies without shifting them to MGM hospital (where expert and senior doctors were available) to conduct autopsy if the encounter was genuine. He wanted the government to explain why the police did not permit the petitioner to see her husband’s body.

Government Pleader for Home Mahesh Rajesh, refuting the contentions of the petitioners counsel, said the PME of the bodies was already conducted with forensic experts of Eturnagaram hospital. The bodies were not shifted to MGM hospital apprehending law and order issues.

The matter was posted to Tuesday with a direction to GP for Home to secure written instructions in the matter along with the details of forensic doctors who conducted the autopsy.