Disha ‘encounter’ probe at final stage, report likely on February 2

HYDERABAD: The Inquiry into the alleged encounter of the four accused in the Disha rape and murder case by the Sirpurkar Commission, appointed by the Supreme Court, reached the final stage on Sunday.

Commission chairman V.S. Sirpurkar, along with members Justice Rekha P. Sondur Baldota and Dr D. R. Kaarthikeyan, inspected the open fields where the four accused were killed in an encounter on December 6, 2019. They also visited the underpass of the national highway where the rape victim’s charred body was found on November 27, 2019, apart from Shadnagar police station and Tondupally toll plaza and Ravi Guest House, where the four accused in the Disha case, Mohammed Arif, Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Ch. Chennakesavulu, were kept days before their deaths on December 6, 2019.

The commission started proceedings in August and concluded it last month. It is likely to submit a report to the Supreme Court on February 2, 2022.

Independent council P.V. Krishnamachary, representing the families of the four men, said that the alleged encounter episode was staged and the encounter was planned and premeditated murders. “The four men were killed elsewhere and were taken to the Chatanpally area, where the crime scene was staged. However, lack of bullets, no soil on the ground for the accused men to throw at the cops as told in their deposition, among others point to the fact that there was never a retaliation or shootout. We requested the panel to punish the officers involved in this and hope to provide justice to the families of the encounter victims,” said Krishnamachary.

The commission examined many witnesses, police officials and the family members of the four men killed in the alleged encounter. It recorded statements of key police officials including the then Cyberabad police commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, investigation officer Surender Reddy, special investigation team (SIT) chief and Rachakonda commissioner Mahesh Bagwat and DCP of Shamshabad N. Prakash Reddy.

Meanwhile, local residents of Shadnagar staged a protest during the commission’s visit to the Shadnagar police station by raising slogans opposing the investigation. The protesters sat on the road in front of the police station and chanted slogans of ‘Sirpurkar Commission go back’. The police convoy dispersed the protesters later.