Hyderabad Encounter | 'Law has done its duty, all four accused killed in retaliation': Cyberabad CP

Hyderabad | Jagran News Desk: Addressing the media on the encounter of four accused in the Hyderabad veterinarian's rape-murder case by the Hyderabad Police, Cyberabad police chief VC Sajjanar on Friday said that "law has done its duty".

Sajjanar said that the personnel resorted to "retaliatory" firing after two of the accused in the rape and murder of a woman veterinarian opened fire at police after snatching weapons from them.

He said that that one of the accused, Mohammed Arif, was the first to open fire, even as the police team that took them to the crime scene were attacked with stones and sticks.

The snatched weapons were in "unlocked" position, he added.

Also Read | All 4 accused in rape and murder of Hyderabad vet killed in encounter: Telangana Police

Sajjanar said that the accused had confessed to their crime after interrogation on December 4 and 5. 

Giving details about today's encounter, Sajjanar said that all four accused -- Mohammed Arif (26), Jollu Shiva (20), Jollu Naveen (20) and Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu (20) --  were taken to the crime scene for reconstruction. 

"Two accused snatched our weapons and fired at us. We warned the accused and asked them to surrender. We retaliated and fired at the accused in which they were killed," he said, adding that the encounter lasted 45 minutes between 5.45 and 6.30am. 

"During encounter, two police men have been injured and they have been shifted to the local hospital," he added. 

Two weapons have been seized from the accused and their bodies have been shifted to local government hospital for post-mortem, he said.

"There were around 10 police with the accused persons during the time of encounter. We have recovered the victim's cell phone here at the spot," Sajjanar said. 

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Reacting to NHRC taking suo moto cognisance of the encounter, Sajjanar said that the police department will "will answer to whoever takes cognisance, the state govt, NHRC, to all concerned."

The press conference by the Commissioner of Police came after the early morning encounter of the four accused at the same site where the burnt body of the veterinarian was found on November 27 received mixed reactions from all quarters, with some praising the killing saying that "justice has been done", while others criticising the move. 

While some, including Jaya Bachchan saw it as speedy justice for the rape victim, others, such as Maneka Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor said extrajudicial killings are a matter of concern.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is in Ranchi, said an inquiry into the matter to ascertain the facts was needed.

"I don't know the facts of what happened in Hyderabad. As a responsible person, all I can say is, it must be thoroughly inquired into to find out if it was a genuine encounter, whether they were trying to flee or it was anything else," the former union minister told reporters.