SIT takes over probe of Chittoor firing incident

Hyderabad, Apr 29: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday, April 29 took over the probe of Chittoor firing incident in which 20 persons died.

The eight-member team led by senior IPS officer Ravishankar Ayyanar collected all the documents related to the April 7 incident from the Tirupati Urban Police.

"We have taken over the investigation....From today the probe has started. We have to scrutinise the documents. After verifying the documents, we will visit the scene of offence," Ravishankar told PTI over phone.

Andhra Pradesh government had on April 24 constituted the SIT headed by an inspector general-rank officer to probe the incident in which 20 persons died when the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force allegedly fired on them in Seshachalam hill range in Chittoor district.

Based on a complaint filed by Muniyammal, wife of Sashi Kumar, one of the victims, the Chandragiri police under Tirupati Urban Police limits registered an FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) against "unknown" task force personnel on April 14.

The Hyderabad High Court had directed the SIT to complete the probe within 60 days and report the progress to the court in the meantime.

PTI