Magisterial probe into Hyderabad firing

Following demands from different quarters for a thorough inquiry into the police firing at the Sikh Chawny in which three persons of a particular community were killed, Governor E S L Narasimhan has ordered a Magisterial Inquiry into the incident on Thursday.

Earlier, he held a meeting with the chief secretary, home secretary, DGP and other senior police officers and reviewed the conditions that led to firing. An ex gratia of Rs 6 lakh is sanctioned to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the firing. Ex gratia of Rs 50,000 has been sanctioned to the grievously injured.

The injured will be provided best possible medical treatment free of cost in any corporate hospital through Arogyasri scheme. Compensation would be provided towards loss of property to the effected as per norms.

The incident needed a deeper look as eyewitnesses in the area complained that the Cyberabad Police has asked the Border Security Force personnel, who were present in the locality on election duty, to fire and the BSF fired on the rioters rather than firing into the air to quell the mob.

“Why would the police use assault rifles like INSAS and not use rubber bullets? Were they firing at terrorists?” Former Mayor Majid Hussain of the AIMIM, who visited the area, said. The Majlis has led a delegation to the Governor on Wednesday urging him to ensure justice for the victims.

Meanwhile, curfew continued in the Kishan Bagh area where the last rites of Taufiq (38) an electrician, Fareed (25) an auto driver and Wajid (23) a marble polish worker who died in firing were completed.

A near-curfew situation prevailed in the old city on Thursday with the shops and establishments remaining closed as a precaution as there was palpable tension under the uneasy calm.