SIT note in encounter case challenged in court

Madurai: Representing the families of 20 men who were killed by Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) in an alleged encounter, a senior criminal lawyer PP Mohan challenged the closure report filed by the Andhra Pradesh (AP) Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the court, said an official release from People Watch.

The Government of AP had constituted a SIT on April 20, 2015 for a thorough investigation into the incident that had led to the killing of 20 men from Tamil Nadu in Seshachalam forest, in Chittoor District, said Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People Watch, which works on human rights issues.

Muniammal filed a complaint with Chandragiri police station alleging that the 20 men were killed by RSASTF. The SIT, which is investigating the case, is also supposed to report to the AP High Court which is also hearing a PIL regarding the said matter, said Tiphagne in the release.

In the meantime, with the appointment of the Justice K.M. Joseph as the new Chief Justice of the AP High Court recently, the AP SIT has suddenly completed their investigation. A notice has now been served to Muniammal stating that a final closure report is being filed in the case and a charge sheet could not be filed due to lack of evidence, said the release.

However on May 20, 2016, the senior criminal lawyer PP Mohan and three other counsels appeared on behalf of Muniammal in the IV Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Tirupati and challenged the closure report.

After listening to the arguments, the court asked the SIT for copies of the final reported filed along with all annexures. The court has stated that the orders will be passed only after the perusal of the final report submitted by the SIT.