SC seeks NHRC assistance in fake encounter case

New Delhi, Nov 13: The Supreme Court today requested the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to assist the court on the issue of directions to the government to frame a national policy and evolve guidelines to deal with the menace of fake encounters in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker made the request on a petition filed by a lawyer R Chanderashekhar Reddy alleging that large scale killings of innocent people in the state were taking place in stage managed fake encounters by the police officers to seek out-of-turn promotions.

According to the petitioner there is government order laying down that police personnel posted in terrorist or naxal-infested areas will be given out of turn promotions to the next higher rank in case they succeed in eliminating the terrorists or naxalites who have scant regard for human lives or for law.

According to the petitioner about six state ministers resigned in protest against fake encounter killings on July 4,2004 and a student of intermediate in Sircilla and later seven innocent girls were killed by the police in similar manner in Jan. 2005.

The petitioner who claims to be from Medak District in the state has also alleged that the people were living in constant fear.

The court had already issued notices to the Centre and the state government on the PIL.

UNI