SIMI activists killing: Mamata Banerjee questions Madhya Pradesh police claims

Banerjee tweeted: "We do not agree with the so-called encounter theory. Many unanswered questions arise in the minds of the people."

"This is all happening in the name of political vendetta. Issues like these make me deeply concerned about national integrity & unity," she tweeted.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Bhopal Central Jail on Wednesday following the death of eight SIMI activists who were reportedly killed in an encounter with the police following their escape from the jail on October 31, according to media reports.

He visited the jail to take stock of the situation and the security arrangements, NDTV reported.

Meanwhile, the clothes of the SIMI men killed in the alleged encounter have been sent for forensic tests to ascertain the distance from which the men were shot at, according to media reports.

The post-mortem report has revealed that each of the eight men received at least two bullet injuries and most of them above the waist, reported NDTV.

According to prescribed norms, one is expected to shoot below the waist to prevent the culprit from escaping.

The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday said it has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 8 SIMI under trial prisoners, who escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail, were killed in an encounter with police in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on Oct 31.

The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and the DG & IG, Prisons, Government of Madhya Pradesh, calling for detailed reports in the matter within six weeks.

The deceased prisoners were members of the banned group SIMI or Students Islamic Movement of India and had been arrested on charges including murder, sedition and terrorism, reported NDTV.