Nizamabad: A fact-finding team of advocates and activists has alleged that the police in Nizamabad, Telangana, staged the killing of 24-year-old Sheikh Riyaz on October 20 as a fake encounter to cover up a custodial death and an extortion racket involving local officers and counterfeit currency networks.
The 10-member team, comprising Khalida Parveen, Sarah Mathews, Majid Shuttari, Advocate Sameer Ali, and others, released its report last week after visiting the city. It demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into what it termed a gross violation of human rights.
According to the report, Riyaz, a resident of Mohammadiya Colony and a recovery agent for non-banking finance firms, was accused of stabbing Constable E. Pramod Kumar on October 17 while being taken to a police station. Following the constable’s death, police declared Riyaz a fugitive and claimed he was killed after snatching a weapon from an officer and opening fire at them.
Contradicting the official version, the team said witness testimonies indicate that Riyaz was already in police custody when he died. It alleged that his mother, wife, and two minor children were illegally detained and subjected to brutal torture to extract information about him. The report describes acts of physical and sexual violence, including the use of chili powder and forced confinement of the family for two days.
The team claimed that police attempted to portray Riyaz as a criminal to justify their actions, while concealing his professional background. It further alleged that the so-called encounter was staged to destroy evidence of custodial torture and extortion.
The report also linked the case to a counterfeit currency racket and alleged collusion between police officials and local operatives. It called for FIRs against the officers involved, compensation of ₹5 crore and a government job for Riyaz’s wife, and the preservation of all forensic and electronic evidence.
