#HyderabadEncounter : Telangana Police Defend Action, Four Accused Killed In Retaliation

Picture : Twitter / ANI

Telangana police have 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 on Friday morning.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner CV Sajjanar said one of the accused, Mohammed Arif, was the first to open fire, even as the police team that took them to the crime scene were attacked with stones and sticks.

The police returned fire after initial “restraint” and asking the accused to surrender, he told reporters in Hyderabad.

The snatched weapons were in “unlocked” position, he added.

The accused were not handcuffed when the firing took place and the incident happened between 5.45 am and 6.15 am, he said.

Detailing the events leading to the exchange of fire, Sajjanar said the police team comprising ten police officials brought the accused to the location based on their ‘confession’ to recover a cellphone and ‘other objects.’

“… all the four accused got together, they started attacking the police party with stones, sticks, and other material. And they also snatched away weapons from our two officers and started firing,” he said.

“Even though our officers maintained restraint and asked them to surrender, without listening to us, they continued to fire and attack… our people started retaliation. And in that retaliation four accused got killed,” he said adding after examination all the four bodies were found with bullet injuries.

Prime accused Arif started attacking the police party followed by another accused, Chennakeshavulu.

“The duo was found with the weapons that were snatched from police officials and from which they opened the fire on the police,” he said.