The Telangana High Court on Thursday declined an immediate hearing for a petition seeking suo motu cognisance regarding a recent police incident in Nizamabad. The court directed the petitioner to follow established procedure by submitting the request through the registry.
The petition concerns the death of Shaik Riyaz, a 24-year-old vehicle-theft suspect, who was killed by police at the Nizamabad Government General Hospital. This incident occurred days after Riyaz allegedly fatally stabbed Constable A.E. Pramod.
The petitioner sought an independent inquiry, to be led by a retired high court judge, arguing that the circumstances surrounding Riyaz’s death in police custody, while he was undergoing treatment for severe injuries, were "highly suspicious" and diverged from established legal and constitutional standards. The petitioner also requested that the Nizamabad police be included as a party to the proceedings.
In a letter to the chief justice, the petitioner reportedly detailed alleged police negligence related to Riyaz’s escape following the stabbing of Constable Pramod. Riyaz was identified as a "high-risk accused" reportedly involved in 61 criminal cases. In contrast, police assert that Riyaz attempted to seize a service weapon from a constable at the hospital, resulting in him being shot in self-defence.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/telangana-hc-declines-urgent-hearing-on-nizamabad-encounter-10322909/