Telangana Human Rights Commission steps in after family of encounter victim alleges police harassment

The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has intervened after the family of Shaik Riyaz, who was recently killed in a police encounter, lodged a complaint alleging harassment and physical torture by police officials.

On Monday, Riyaz’s mother, wife and minor children appeared before the Commission and submitted a written complaint stating that they were being prevented from entering their house and subjected to third-degree methods by the police. The family also alleged that the slain constable, E. Pramod Kumar, had demanded ₹3 lakh from Riyaz, of which ₹30,000 had already been paid, and that fraudulent monetary dealings had occurred between them.

The Commission had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the encounter based on media reports and had directed the Director General of Police, Telangana, to file a factual report by November 24.

However, in light of the fresh complaint, the TGHRC advanced the hearing to October 27 and instructed the DGP to submit a detailed factual report by November 3. The Commission further ordered that no coercive action or harassment be carried out against any member of Riyaz’s family until further orders.