File Photo: KCR, Vidyasagar Rao visit Yakub Reddy while he was undergoing treatment
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The state police came under severe criticism from the State Human Rights Commission in the Yakub Reddy torture case.
AP State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) has directed Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew to handover the probe of torture case of Telangana activist V Yakub Reddy by the police to CBI or National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Though the SHRC gave the order on October 11, it remained as a secret until the copy of the order was received by the petitioner yesterday.
As you might already be knowing, Yakub Reddy along with other students was picked up by the police while protesting in front of state minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah’s house on September 7, 2011.
To keep their detention a secret, the police have taken these students to different police stations in Warangal district. Yakub Reddy, and few other students were subjected to inhuman torture. Police hit him on his private parts as a part of their torture.
Yakub Reddy was severely injured by this torture and was not even able to urinate for several days. The police even refused to give medical aid and threatened him that they would bump him off in an encounter, if he disclosed about the torture to anyone.
Apparently, Kazipet DSP Venkata Ramnarsaiah was the officer behind this heinous atrocity.
It is clear that Yakub Reddy was cruelly tortured by the Seemandhra government to send a message to Telangana activists.
File Photo: Yakub Reddy, who was severely injured in police torture, being shifted to hospital
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Yakub Reddy had earlier approached APSHRC, following which the state DGP was directed to inquire and submit a report. The Additional Superintendent of Police was appointed as the inquiry officer, who had submitted a report. This report was compiled by just recording the statements of police officials.
Yakub Reddy’s lawyers say that the report was totally biased and approached the Human Rights Commission seeking an impartial probe by an independent authority and the expenses towards medical aid for the victim.
After hearing the plea, APSHRC in its order said, “As far as the inquiry conducted by the ASP of Warangal district is concerned, it does not instil any confidence in any one as allegations have been levelled against the police officials of the district.
Therefore, we feel it appropriate that the inquiry should be conducted by an independent authority, to meet the ends of justice. Accordingly, we directed the Chief Secretary to Government of Andhra Pradesh to entrust the matter to the CBI or NIA and file report in the matter.”
HRC members expressed anger that an IPS officer has indulged in this kind of human rights abuse on a student. They said that the country’s prestige would be tarnished by such atrocious acts of police.
The order was given jointly by HRC members (Judicial) M Rama Rao and (Non-Judicial) Kakumanu Peda Peri Reddy.