In the early hours of Friday, the nation woke up to the news that the four men who were accused in the rape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinarian from Hyderabad had been killed in an alleged encounter by Hyderabad police.

As debates about whether the police’s actions were justified heated up on social media, the parents of the deceased accused have reacted to the news of the death of their sons.

Speaking to the media, the prime accused Areef’s mother is visibly distraught. “I don't know what they've done. My son is gone! Of course, this is wrong. My son is gone. I am not able to speak,” she said between sobs.

The mother of another accused – Shiva – was visibly shaken up as she spoke to the media. “Sir, if my son was found to be guilty, then please shoot him,” she cried into the mic.

Shiva’s father on the other hand questioned why only the four accused in this particular case were given such punishments. “Others should also be punished in this manner, why haven’t they been?”

However not all the parents of the accused hold the same views.

“We told earlier itself to kill them instead of putting them in jail, but they should’ve at least given us a chance to see them before killing them,” says the father of accused Naveen.

Earlier, Jayamma – the mother of the fourth accused, Chennakesavulu – had stated to the media that her son should be punished if found guilty.

“If my son committed the crime, burn him too. My son is nothing to me. Wrong is wrong. She (victim’s mother) gave birth to a daughter after nine months. Her daughter becoming the victim of such a crime… what she must be going through,” she had earlier said.

Chennakesavulu’s wife is unconsolable.

“He’s left me within a year of getting married, please take me to the spot where you killed him and kill me also. I can’t live without him,” she cries.

The four accused – Areef, Shiva, Naveen and Chennakeshavulu – were apprehended by the police. In the early hours of Friday morning they were taken to the spot where the crime had occurred to allegedly recreate the scene for collection of evidence. They allegedly attempted to escape by taking the guns of policemen present, and were subsequently shot in the alleged encounter.

DCP Prakash Reddy told TNM that there was crossfire in which the four accused were killed, and two police officers were injured. The incident took place between 6 and 6.30 am according to the DCP.