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All the four accused in the kidnap, rape and murder of Disha (the name given by the police to the victim) were killed in an alleged ‘encounter’ early Friday morning near Shadnagar, where they committed the crime.
Post-mortem on the bodies of Arif, the main accused, and Siva, Navin and Chennakeshavulu, is being done at the site, even as hundreds of locals arriving at the encounter site, showering praises on the police and government for handing out instant justice.
Congratulatory messages pouring in on the police and the Telangana Government for the ‘encounter’, with BSP President Mayawati and celebrities expressing happiness over the justice done to the veterinary doctor.
Social media too erupts into jubilation. A few political leaders and other handles, however, questioned the manner in which the killings happened. They felt that a due course of law should have taken place.
The kin of Disha, celebrities and scores of others welcomed the ‘encounter’ killings, saying that justice has been done to Disha. Hundreds of residents of Shadnagar reached the place of ‘encounter’ and shouted slogans, praising the killing.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar confirmed the encounter and killing of the four. Incidentally, a similar ‘encounter’ took place in Warangal in 2008 when Sajjanar was the Superintendent of Police there. Three suspects in an acid attack on two girls were killed in an encounter.
The crime has rocked the nation, with people demanding harsh punishment for the offenders. The Parliament too discussed the issue, with several members expressing anguish at the dastardly act and demanding severe punishment to the perpetrators.
Read: Brutal rape and murder of veterinary doctor shakes the conscience of Telangana
The victim was kidnapped from a lonely spot near a toll plaza on the national highway, where she was seeking help to get her two-wheeler repaired. The incident took place 10 days ago.
The accused, who had offered to help, abducted and raped her, before burning her alive.
The police alleged that the four accused tried to escape from their custody when they took them to the crime site, to ‘reconstruct’ the scene as part of the inquiry.
They tried to attack the police and escape. They were trying to flee, taking advantage of the darkness. "They pelted stones at the police, forcing the latter to open fire on them, killing them,' the police said.
Protests
The rape and brutal murder of the veterinary doctor shook the nation with all political parties, leaders, celebrities and people demanding death for the accused. Thousands of protesters mobbed the Shadnagar police station near the Hyderabad-Bengaluru National Highway on Saturday and Sunday, demanding the police hand over the accused to them so that they could punish them. The protests continued unabated, forcing the police to bring the magistrate to the station, to seek custody of the accused.
Timeline
November 27, 6 pm: Disha parks her two-wheeler near Tondupally jn
November 27, 9.18 pm: She comes back to pick up her bike
November 27 9. 22 pm: Calls kin sensing danger
November 27, 9.44 pm: Her sister finds Disha’s phone switched off
November 28, 3 am: Disha’s kin files police complaint
November 28, 5 am: Passer-by finds her charred body
November 29: Four accused – Areef, Navin, Siva, Chennakeshavulu held
November 30: Thousands protest at Shadnagar police station. Accused shifted to high-security Charlapally jail
December 1: Govt calls for fast-track court for quick trial
December 4: Court grants a 7-day custody of accused to police
December 6: Four accused killed in ‘encounter’ after they tried to escape from the crime scene, where they were brought for reconstruction of scene.
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