DCP is questioned by a panel over his use of heavy artillery.

HYDERABAD: Engaging a private guest house as a safe house and use of long-range weapons like AK-47s by police escort parties came under intense scrutiny of SC-appointed commission while grilling deputy commissioner of police, Shamshabad, N Prakash Reddy on Saturday. The panel wanted to know if it was regular practice in Telangana to engage a private guest house as safe house to keep the accused during custody and, if long-range weapons , are usually carried by police escorting the accused in rape and murder cases. The commission also asked why a request was made for six long-range weapons to be issued for the escort party, safeguarding the four Disha case accused, and if such a request was normally made in respect of escorting the accused. The DCP said that based on request of ACP Shadngar V Surender, the CP Cyberabad, sanctioned escort party from the armed reserve with long-range weapons and such request has been made to use them as a deterrence till additional force arrives if mob tries to harm the accused during police custody. When the commission asked him why he did not instruct the investigation officer (IO) of the alleged encounter killing case on December 6, 2019 to wait for jurisdictional magistrate before completion of inquest and shifting of bodies, the DCP stated that he had received information that a new IO had been appointed and he did not interfere with investigation. When they asked if he was aware of the minimum statutory requirement of inquest to be done in presence of jurisdictional magistrate, the DCP said, “I plead my ignorance in that aspect.”