The Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) has moved the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against injuring of two tribals identified as Kamaraju and Rambabu in police firing near Lambasingi village in Chintapallemandal under Visakhapatnam district ofAndhra Pradesh on 17 October 2021.
A team of Telangana Police from Nalgonda district, came to Andhra Pradesh without informing the local police and they arrested one local tribal namely Bhima Raju on 15 October 2021 alleging that he was a ganja smuggler. The Telangana Police held Bhima Raju under illegal custody without informing his family members till 17 October when he was handed overto the family.
When the local villagers gathered to protest the illegal action of the Telangana Police, the police fired at the villagers in which two tribals identified as Kamaraju and Rambabu who suffered bullet injuries.
The action of the Telangana Police to enter into the territory of Andhra Pradesh and open fire at the tribal villagers is a serious violation of the human rights.
IRAC demanded the immediate intervention of the National Human Rights Commission by taking the following measures:
- Direct the state government ofAndhra Pradesh to order an impartial and thorough investigation into the incident and submit a report within four weeks;
- Direct the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telanganaarrest the accused police personnel and prosecute them under the relevant provisions of the law, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act;
- Direct the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to provide Rs. 5 lakh compensation each to the two injured tribals and Rs 1 lakh to Bhima Raju who was held in illegal custody;