CBI visits Azad killing site

HYDERABAD:  The CBI officials who are investigating the ‘encounter’ killing of CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and journalist Hemachandra Pandey in the Adilabad forests, on Tuesday enquired the Adilabad police about the circumstances of their death.Led by CBI’s deputy inspector general V V Lakshminarayana, the team went to the encounter site in Narkepally forest area of Ramgiri mandal. The officials reportedly videographed the site.According to sources, Mandamarri circle inspector, Raghunandan Rao, who was the CI of Asifabad when the encounter took place and Thandur sub-inspector of police K Ravinder were questioned about the encounter. “The policemen were asked about the position from where the Maoists opened fire and from where the police opened retaliatory fire,’’ CBI officials said. The officials reconstructed the crime scene with the version of the policemen present on the spot when the encounter took place. The CBI would also record the their statements. “This would not be our only visit to the forest area,’’ a CBI officer said. Sources said civil right activists were also present when the CBI team visited.