annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Andhra Pradesh
National Human Rights Commission on
fake encounters had little impact on the
ground. 10 The National Human Rights
Commission registered 84 cases of
custodial deaths in 1999-2000, 78 cases in
2000-2001, 97 cases 2001-2002 and 122
cases in 2002-2003. 11
Impunity is one of the root causes
encouraging violations of the right to life.
The State government has yet to take
action regarding the inquiry reports on as
many as 47 custodial deaths and 732
incidents of police firing. As per rules, the
State government must obtain inquiry
reports from magistrates within four
months. In cases where the inquiry into a
custodial death could not be completed
within the stipulated period, the inquiry
officer is required to record the reasons
and seek permission from the sessions
judge for some more time. Backward
districts of Karimnagar (296), Warangal
(109) and Nizamabad (72) have the largest
number of pending inquiry reports on
police firing. About 107 cases of police
firing have been pending since 1993. The
relatives of the victims have been denied
compensation in many cases. 12
On 13 April 2004, 30-year-old
Dhanraj, resident of Kukatpally
Municipality area in Hyderabad was
allegedly called to the Kukatpally police
station on the complaint of his friend who
accused him stealing of Rs. 72,000.
Unable to bear the torture, he reportedly
committed suicide on 14 April 2004. 13
On 17 July 2004, Excise Enforcement
officials of Punganur arrested Bayyanna, a
rickshaw puller, for allegedly possessing
country liquor. The next day, his body was
found on the outskirts of the town.
Preliminary inquiry by the police revealed
that Bayyanna was tortured to death. Later
on, Excise Circle Inspector Narasimha
Reddy, excise constables Ramachandrudu,
Reddayya, Prasad and Ramachandra of
Punganur excise police station were
arrested. 14
On 28 October 2004, Gangaraju
Jawahara Babu was arrested on the charge
of eve-teasing and detained in the lock-up
by the Sattenapalli police in Guntur
district. He reportedly died of fits and
frothing in the police station on the
morning of 29 October 2004. 15
On 21 December 2004, Gangaaju
Gangaiah, 55 of Srikalahasti under
Chittoor district was arrested in an alleged
case of theft. He died in the custody of
Srikalahasti police station. Police claimed
that Gangaiah had committed suicide with
his lungi in the cell. However, the family
members alleged that he was tortured to
death. On 22 December 2004, the relatives
of the victim staged a dharna in front of the
Srikalahasti police station. 16
The police were also responsible for
unlawful and arbitrary deprivation of life
through arbitrary use of fire arms.
On 18 January 2004, Andhra Pradesh
Police reportedly killed two villagers and
injured three others when police opened
fire to quell alleged rioting mob at Salur in
Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
The mob was protesting against the
apprehension of 15 alleged gamblers by
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