Hyderabad, Oct 31 (NationPress) An independent fact-finding committee has raised serious questions regarding the suspected encounter death of Shaik Riyaz and the murder of police constable Pramod Kumar in Nizamabad, Telangana. The committee has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry to uncover the truth.

The committee argues that only a CBI investigation can clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of 24-year-old Riyaz, the murder of constable Pramod Kumar, the involvement of an individual named Asif and his associates, the alleged police extortion racket, and the counterfeit currency operations.

Furthermore, the panel has revealed shocking details of sexual abuse inflicted on Riyaz's elderly mother, his wife, and his two minor children.

Comprising activists such as Khalida Parveen, Sarah Mathews, Majid Shuttari, Advocate Sameer Ali, Mohammad Abdul Taj, and Shaikh Sikandar, the committee announced its findings at a press conference on Friday.

Riyaz was reportedly killed in a police encounter on October 20 at the government hospital in Nizamabad, where he was receiving treatment. Police claimed he attempted to seize a weapon from an officer, leading to the fatal shooting.

Authorities allege that the so-called habitual offender Riyaz was fatally stabbed during transportation by Pramod on October 17, following his arrest related to vehicle theft. Pramod’s nephew was reportedly on the same motorbike at the time.

According to police, a citizen named Asif assisted in capturing Riyaz, who was supposedly evading arrest after constable Pramod's murder.

The report from the fact-finding committee asserts that there have been serious violations of human rights, a significant undermining of legal principles, and a detailed cover-up.

“This includes custodial murder, sexual abuse against women and children, police extortion practices, and a fabricated police encounter intended to conceal a corrupt connection between law enforcement, counterfeit currency operations, and finance firms active in Nizamabad,” the report states.

“The police narrative has incorrectly depicted the deceased Riyaz as a 'dangerous criminal,' ignoring his legitimate role as a recovery agent for finance companies. This manipulation of facts appears aimed at demonizing him to justify actions against him and his family, while shielding the actual wrongdoers,” the committee highlighted.

Witnesses to constable Pramod's body being disposed of and those familiar with the bribery negotiations between police and Riyaz are reportedly too frightened to testify due to fear of police retribution.

The committee further discovered that Riyaz came across Rs 3 lakh in counterfeit currency hidden within one of the scooters he had recovered. He subsequently laundered the fake notes into real currency to purchase a new scooter.

It also emerged that the original owner of the scooter, which was seized along with the fake notes, was Asif, who law enforcement later tried to present as a hero.

As Asif pressured Riyaz to repay the money, Riyaz sought assistance from constable Pramod Kumar. The constable allegedly took Riyaz to his superiors, who demanded a bribe.

Local reports indicate that Riyaz and Pramod secretly met to negotiate the bribe amount. It is believed that Asif and his accomplices attempted to eliminate Riyaz to mitigate the risk he posed, leading to Pramod's death—either accidentally or intentionally—to silence him as a potential witness. Pramod's body was then discarded on Vinayak Nagar Road.

The panel suspects that Riyaz's death occurred while in police custody due to torture, but the authorities falsely claimed he was shot while attempting to escape. Asif, meanwhile, was elevated to a heroic status to obscure the underlying connections.

The Telangana State Human Rights Commission has taken notice of Shaik Riyaz's encounter and instructed the Director General of Police to compile a comprehensive report.

Riyaz's family later approached the Commission, alleging that they were being barred from their residence and subjected to coercive tactics by the police.

They also claimed that the deceased constable Pramod Kumar had solicited Rs 3 lakh from Riyaz, of which Rs 30,000 had already been paid, indicating fraudulent dealings between them. The Commission has directed law enforcement not to engage in any coercive actions.