SHRC chairman T. Sham Bhatt and member S.K. Vantigodi, among others, during their visit to the crime spot (where a minor girl was found dead) in Hubballi on Monday as part of an inquiry into the encounter of the accused in the girl’s murder.
| Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE

Karnataka State Human Rights Commission headed by chairman T. Sham Bhatt has begun inquiry into the incident of an encounter in which the accused in a minor girl’s murder was killed after being shot at by police when he tried to escape after assaulting them.

On Monday, a team comprising Mr. Bhat, member S.K. Vantigodi and Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudheer M. Hegde visited the deceased girl’s house and also the place where the encounter took place.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Bhatt said that based on a special report sent by the Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner on the police shoot-out, they have registered a case and are looking into the issue of whether there is any human rights violation.

Mr. Bhat clarified that after confirming that there is no case registered in connection with the encounter by the National Human Rights Commission, they have registered a case and are inquiring into it.

He further clarified that the inquiry by the SHRC and investigation by the CID will go on independently and if required, they will seek a report from the CID.

“We have a human rights cell headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director-General of Police. He has assigned investigation to a Deputy Superintendent of Police who will investigate the issue of encounter and submit a report to us. After the report, we will call the police sub-inspector concerned and the personnel involved to give them a chance to present their version pertaining to the event,” he said.

Mr. Bhatt said that they have just visited the girl’s house and the site of the encounter and they will get a report from Police Inspector Kiran Kumar who is the complainant in the encounter case.

“We will be calling the sub-inspector of police who shot at the accused to hear her version. We are told that she has been discharged from hospital but is yet to report to duty. It may take two months for us to complete the inquiry and submit a report to the State government,” he said.

Replying to a query, Mr. Vantigodi clarified that they are inquiring into the case as there has been a loss of life and the question of right to life. “Everyone has the right to life and none can snatch away the right to life. In this case, the accused person has lost his life and that’s why a case has been registered and we are inquiring into whether his right to life was taken away,” he said.

He clarified that they are not drawing any inferences at this juncture as they have just begun inquiring into the case and will take further steps based on the report to be submitted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the human rights cell.

To a query on whether SHRC will inquire into the murder of the minor girl, Mr. Bhat clarified that the issue of inquiring into it will only arise when the police fail to file a case and investigate it. However, in this case, the police have done their duty and their (SHRC) role is only to look into the issue of encounter.