Encounter or Murder: 5 killed, CBI to probe Chennai police?

Chennai, Feb 24: It seems that investigative agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) soon may begin its investigation in the encounter case which has been conducted by Chennai police. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in Madras High Court on Friday, Feb 24 seeking CBI probe into the case.

The PIL has been registered in the court following speculations that the encounter conducted by Chennai police might be a case of murder. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also issued notices to Director General of Tamil Nadu Police and Chennai District Magistrate demanding probe in the same case.

Five bank robbery suspects were killed in a police encounter in Velachery, Chennai in the wee hours of Thursday. Here it can be mentioned that on Feb 20, Rs 14 lakh was looted by four armed men from a branch of Indian Overseas Bank at Keelkattalai. In an another incident, the Bank of Baroda branch near Perungudi was stripped off of Rs 19 lakh by four armed men on Jan 23.

Police claimed that the two robberies were being conducted by the same group and the slain suspects have been identified as Vinod Kumar, Chandrika Ray, Harish Kumar, Vinay Prasad (from Bihar) and Abhay Kumar (West Bengal).

Chennai (city) police commissioner JK Tripathy has been quoted as saying, "Our team had gone to the house to verify the information. But when the people inside started shooting at our team, and continued to do so even after warning that it might hurt innocent neighbours who had come out due to commotion, we had to retaliate."

"We had to break open the door and go inside even as the firing from inside continued. Two police officials suffered gunshot injuries and were admitted to hospital," added the official.

OneIndia News