The Hindu : National : In many cases task force fired from close range: Sadashiva panel

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Thursday, Nov 03, 2005

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In many cases task force fired from close range: Sadashiva panel

Staff Reporter

Local authorities did not record relatives' version: report

Compensation recommended Hold mandatory judicial inquiry Commanding officers must own responsibility for conduct of police personnel

NEW DELHI: The Justice Sadashiva panel, constituted by the National Human Rights Commission in 1999, has raised questions about the veracity of the Joint Special Task Force's encounters during its operations against forest bandit Veerappan.

The panel has found that in 60 cases, the task force shot people from close range.

In 12 other cases the victims were fired at from the sides, front and back. The panel has recommended suitable monetary relief to the families in the 72 cases.

Local authorities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka did not record the versions of the relatives of those killed, its report said.

The panel has recommended adequate compensation to 38 persons who were arrested and detained under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and later acquitted by a special court in September 2001.

The panel has asked the NHRC to decide the quantum of relief in cases in which it recommended payment of compensation.

It has recommended that the States adopt the procedure of mandatory judicial inquiry in areas where special police operations are launched to protect human rights and guard against such `encounters' in future.

"Evidence not enough"

Emphasising the need for strict discipline among the police, the report says commanding officers must accept personal responsibility to ensure propriety of conduct of all personnel under their command. The evidence before the panel is not enough to fix the identity of the police personnel who allegedly tortured victims in special camps.

The panel, comprising Justice A. Sadashiva and C.V. Narasimhan, was constituted to examine allegations of atrocities perpetrated between 1993 and 1994.

It heard depositions by 128 victims and 28 Joint Special Task Force officers over four years, and submitted its report on December 2, 2003.

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