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Questions crop up over Telengana killing of suspected terrorists

by IBNS 08 Apr 2015, 10:40 am

Nalgonda, Telengana, Apr 8 (IBNS) The' 'encounter' killing of five suspected terrorists in Telengana on Tuesday has kicked up a controversy after photographs show they were shot dead while partially handcuffed.

The five were killed in Nalgonda district while being taken from Warangal jail to Hyderabad court. According to police version one of them, Vikaruddin Ahmed, asked to be released from the cuffs to relieve himself and on returning, tried to snatch a weapon from the security personnel. Police opened fire when other suspects also followed the suit in an attempt to rescue.

Questions have been raised as to why a 17-strong escort team could not brought five handcuffed men under control without shooting them dead especially when none of the policemen were injured. 

Reports quoted Asaduddin Owaisi, a lawmaker from Hyderabad as alleging that it was an act of revenge. "This murder is in retaliation to killing of three policemen, which is condemnable but today's killing is also murder,"  Owaisi tweeted. 

The families of the men have demanded a CBI investigation.

Telangana police chief Anurag Sharma clarified that the five men killed were not known to have any link with SIMI, Indian Mujahideen or LeT. They were partially handcuffed as they had in the past attacked policemen, he added.

Vikaruddin Ahmed, the alleged founder of a local terror outfit Tehreek-Ghalba-e-Islam was accused of killing at least two police personnel. The other four men were allegedly his associates.

The Supreme court has directed to initiate an inquiry by an executive magistrate into the encounter.