HC calls for post-mortem report

Hyderabad: The High Court at Hyderabad has directed the Telangana State government to submit to the court the post- mortem reports, including its videography, of the nine persons killed in an encounter in Medamadugu forest area under Tekulapally mandal in Bhadradri Kotthagudem district on December 14.

The division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice G Shyam Prasad gave this direction on Monday, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Civil Liberties Committee president Gaddam Lakshman, seeking constitution of a special investigation team for conducting a High Court monitored investigation into the police encounter killings of nine activists belonging to CPI(ML) Chandra Pulla Reddy group and registration of cases under Section 302 of IPC against police personnel responsible for these killings.

The counsel for the petitioner V Raghunath informed the court that first only eight dead bodies were found and later another body was retrieved. There were serious injury marks on those killed in the encounter.

There were also signs of the persons being shot from close range. He said these were planned killings and that was the reason why the post-mortem on the bodies was conducted in a hurried manner.

The bodies were handed over to the kin of the victims and it was ensured that cremation was done immediately.

Telangana Additional Advocate General J Ramchander Rao informed the bench that the post-mortem was conducted as per Supreme Court guidelines and videographed. He also informed the court that the investigation had been handed over to a DSP rank officer.

The bench directed the government to submit post-mortem report and videographs to the court and adjourned the case to December 22.