Hyderabad: All the four accused in the rape and murder of veterinary doctor were killed on Friday early morning in an encounter at a spot where they had burnt her body in Chatanaplly.

Justice Pasha, who retired in May 2018, told Indian Express on phone,  "I cannot call it an encounter. I feel these are cold-blooded murders. Even though it is the will of the people, the police ought not to have done it."

Police claimed the four were taken to Chatanapally— where they had burnt the woman's body — for crime reconstruction when they allegedly tried to escape by attacking the cops.

The Telangana Police Friday said its 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 this morning. Police also said that snatched weapons were in “unlocked” position.

Police said the four were taken to Chatanapally— where they had burnt the woman’s body — for crime reconstruction when they allegedly tried to escape by attacking the cops. “All this happened within 5 or 10 minutes after the four accused were brought to the spot,” Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar told. Earlier today, the National Human Rights Commission also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Incidentally, this is the second such encounter in Telangana, where those accused of crime against women, have been shot dead while allegedly trying to escape from police custody. In December 2008, three accused of acid attack were killed by Warangal Police when they tried to attack the cops at the crime scene. V C Sajjanar, the present Police Commissioner of Cyberabad was SP of Warangal at that time.

Hyderabad 'encounter' will send out strong message: DCW chief

Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal Friday said the Hyderabad "encounter" will send out a strong message and people will feel justice was done. "What about thousands of Nirbhayas who are still waiting for justice. At the end of the day, there will be a strong message (after the encounter), and people will feel justice was done. But l want this country to run through a system," Maliwal was quoted as saying, according to Press Trust of India (PTI)

‘Cold-blooded murders, police ought not have done it’: Ex-Kerala HC judge

Speaking to indianexpress.com over phone, Justice Pasha, who retired in May 2018, said, "I cannot call it an encounter. I feel these are cold-blooded murders. Even though it is the will of the people, the police ought not to have done it."  Click here to read more.  

Backing police action in Hyderabad "encounter", Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the police acted in self-defence. "They (accused) tried to attack and escape when they were taken to spot (of crime), so the encounter was inevitable to save their (police) lives," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.  

Former Union home minister P Chidambaram said on Friday that a "thorough inquiry" should be made into the killing of the four people, accused in the Hyderabad rape-murder case.

"I don't know the facts about what happened, but I can say this much, whatever happened, an inquiry should be made into it," Chidambaram told reporters when asked for a reaction on the incident during a press conference in Ranchi.

"There must be a thorough inquiry to know if it (is a) genuine encounter or whether it is anything else. As a responsible person, I will ask for a thorough inquiry," he added. (PTI)

Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said that the four accused were not handcuffed at that time as they were asked to search for the belongings of the veterinary doctor which they claimed they had hidden there. He also said that all the weapons carried by cops were unlocked as the accused were considered dangerous.

"The accused tried to mislead the police and wandered around. Suddenly, one of the accused started pelting stones at the officers. The other accused also joined him and then the remaining two also picked up sticks and stones and threw them at the police escort. Two of our policemen were injured," Cyberabad Police Commissioner CV Sajjanar told during a media briefing.

"They also snatched two pistols in the melee and fired at the policemen. We gave them a chance to surrender but they fired and police retaliated. After the firing stopped, we found that all four accused were dead," he added.  

We suspect the accused were also involved in many other cases: Police

"We suspect that the accused were also involved in many other cases in Karnataka, investigation is on," Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar told media on Friday morning.