Judicial probe demanded into Azad's killing by Swami Agnivesh - Chidambaran refuses the demand

Prominent social activist Swami Agnivesh Friday met Home Minister P Chidambaram and demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of top Maoist leader Azad and his associate, killed in an alleged police encounter a few days back. The demand, however, was turned down by Chidambaram saying such a step could only be taken by the Andhra Pradesh government as the encounter took place in Adilabad, Agnivesh told reporters after the meeting.

Peace talks between the Centre and the CPI(Maoist) will not proceed further if the Union government does not institute a judicial inquiry into the killing of Cherukiri Rajkumar alias Azad on July 2, said Swami Agnivesh, the mediator between the two sides. The judicial probe will have to ascertain whether the encounter in which Azad was killed was fake, said the swami. He will press this demand when he meets Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday.

Speaking at a convention organised by the National Alliance of People’s Movement in Kolkata, Agnivesh — with Medha Patkar at his side — said, “We will never allow the peace process to be derailed. Azad was at the forefront of initiating the process and if the initiatives become successful, it will be the greatest tribute to Azad. But tomorrow (Thursday), I will meet Chidambaram and ask him to order a judicial probe into Azad’s killing. We all want to know whether he was killed in a fake encounter or a genuine encounter.


Source: Indian Express