A four member fact-finding team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) arrived here in Arasalnatham on Wednesday to obtain testimonies from the families of the victims killed in the Seshachalam encounter by Andhra Pradesh police last month.
The team comprising Senior Superintendent of Police Sumedha Dwivedi, I R Kurillose, Bimal Jit Uppal and Nitin Kumar reached here from Tiruvannamalai, where they had conducted an enquiry on Tuesday.
Seven persons from Arasalnatham, Kalasapaadi and Kallavalavu atop Sitteri hills of Harur here were among the 20 persons killed in the gruesome encounter in Seshachalam reserve forest last month. The family of the lone victim from neighbouring Salem was brought here to testify. Ranjitham, wife of Sasikumar of Kalukathu village in Athur in Salem, deposed at Vachathi on the foothills of Sitheri here, before the team headed to Arasalnatham to meet with the families of the seven victims. In her statement, Ranjitham alleged that the body of her husband was riddled with injuries, bruises and burn marks, indicating police torture.
Earlier, objections were raised to the tone of one of the team members while obtaining statements from the families of the victims. People’s Watch State Coordinator Asirvatham objected stating that they were victims and not witnesses. The families of the victims were asked to trace the chronology of events, such as the time of the call received by the victims, the date of departure, and intervening interactions over phone etc. before the men left and last details up to the funeral.
However, there was general disconcertion to the presence of police personnel with fire arms who were with the NHRC team. Also, objections were raised by People’s Watch to the appointment of a Revenue department-nominated interpreter and the presence of RDO of Harur during the depositions.
“There were complaints that the families were pressured into consigning the bodies to flames immediately after the bodies were brought. The families may not be able to record these statements in the presence of revenue officials,” said Mr.Asirvatham.
People’s Watch had accompanied the team at the behest of NHRC communication seeking its assistance during the team’s visit.
