Hyderabad, India –
The Telangana State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has stepped in over the death of Sheikh Riyaz, who was shot by police during an alleged encounter at a hospital in Nizamabad. The SHRC says it is taking suo‑moto cognisance of the incident and has asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a full report.
The incident made headlines last Monday when the police opened fire on Riyaz, who had previously been arrested for the murder of Constable Pramod Kumar. According to the police, Riyaz tried to grab a service weapon from an Armed Reserve Constable and fled, forcing officers to shoot in “self‑defence.” His body was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
B. Shivadhar Reddy, the DGP of Telangana, stated that the shooting was justified because Riyaz had “attempted to fire at the police.” However, the SHRC says the case raises serious questions about the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and whether police complied with Supreme Court and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines on encounter deaths.
The commission has directed the DGP to hand over a detailed factual report by the next hearing on October 24. The report must include the circumstances that led to the encounter, the status of any magisterial inquiry, departmental or judicial proceedings, and whether the police followed NHRC and Supreme Court guidelines. Copies of the FIR, the post‑mortem report, and other relevant documents are also required.
Riyaz had been involved in a long list of crimes. Police said he was linked to 61 cases, including three attempted murders, robbery, and snatching. He also had 50 theft cases, six of which were in Maharashtra. The alleged murder of Constable Pramod Kumar (42) took place on October 17, when Riyaz stabbed the officer while he was escorting him to a police station. After the murder, Riyaz fled and was later hunted down in an attempt to bring him to justice.
Earlier, on October 19, Riyaz attacked a man named Asif near Sarangapur, under the jurisdiction of Nizamabad Town 6 Police Station. Asif was a police helper who was injured in the scuffle; both men were taken to the hospital. Riyaz was eventually taken into custody but died during the encounter in the hospital.
The SHRC’s intervention marks the first time the commission has taken suo‑moto action in a police encounter that resulted in an accidental death. It underscores growing scrutiny of police practices in Telangana and the importance of protecting human rights in custodial situations.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
