PMK demands probe into encounter deaths

Chennai, Apr 28 (UNI) The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) today demanded a probe into the alleged encounters involving police and rowdy elements in Tamil Nadu.

Talking to newspersons here, PMK founder leader S Ramadoss said in the last ten years, as many as 68 people were killed in the alleged encounters and in the last two years alone, after the DMK came to power, 15 people were killed.

He said the police, which claimed that all those killed were involved in murders and dacoity, should bring them before law and avoid taking law unto their own hands.

Elimination of rowdies and anti-social elements in encounters was against democracy and amounted to human rights violations. ''This amounts to murders,'' he said.

Dr Ramadoss said the Human Rights Commission(HRC) had clearly said the Government should file FIRs against police personnel, who were involved in the encounters and they be placed under suspension.

Stating that there was a nexus between the police, rowdies and politicians, he said this nexus should be broken and the Government should ensure that no encounters take place in the State.

It was a shame that police personnel, who were involved in the search operation of forest brigand Veerappan, who was killed in an encounter, were given promotions, the PMK leader added.

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