Shiva’s father J Rajanna is a shepherd and works at a farm in Tenali in AP

GUDIGANDLA/JAKLAIR ( Narayanpet dist): At least two of the four men accused of raping and murdering Disha and later killed in a police encounter were minors , according to their family members. The families have also alleged before National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that all four were killed in a fake encounter.

On Monday, TOI visited the families of the four accused – J Naveen, J Shiva, Ch Chennakeshavulu and Mohammed Areef – in Gudigandla and Jaklair villages of Narayanpet district.

Naveen’s mother Laxmi, said, “Naveen, my only son, was 17 when he was killed. He was born in 2002. He dropped out of school some years ago. We will soon get a copy of school leaving certificate from the Chinnaporla school where he studied.”

Shiva’s father J Rajanna is a shepherd and works at a farm in Tenali in AP. He told NHRC that he suspects that his son was killed in a fake encounter. “How can he try to escape from armed police?” he asked. “We suspect he was killed in a fake encounter. Even if my son committed a crime, police should have let courts decide his fate.”

Rajanna also told NHRC officials that Shiva was 17 years old. “He was born on August 15, 2002,” he added, showing a certificate issued by the headmaster of the Gudigandla government school. He will be giving a copy of the certificate to NHRC.

Both Naveen and Shiva were cleaners on the truck that Areef and Chennakeshavulu drove in shifts. All four were picked up on November 29, two days after Disha was gang-raped, murdered and her body set on fire near an underbridge on the Shadnagar highway, just outside Hyderabad. They were killed early on December 6 morning when they were taken to Shadnagar to gather evidence. Cops have claimed the four accused were killed after two attacked them, snatched two guns and fired at policemen.

Chennakeshavulu’s father Ch Kurmappa said, “They took my son saying he will be dropped back by 6am the next day. But his phone was switched off after that. Police killed my son and put a firearm in his hand. This is what I have told NHRC.” He is believed to be 19 years old.

Chennakeshavulu's wife Renuka is seven months pregnant. She last saw him at 3 am on November 29 when the owner of the truck, Srinivasa Reddy , came home and took him away. “I don’t have parents. They killed him and did not even let me speak to him after his arrest,” Renuka said.

Main accused Mohammed Areef's father Hussain too met NHRC officials and told them that he believed his son’s encounter was fake. According to his family, he was 26 years old.

