HYDERABAD, India, 29 July 2007 — Eight people were killed and another eight injured in police firing and rioting when a strike called by left-wing parties turned violent in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh yesterday.
According to the police, six people were killed in police firing, a woman died from injuries received in a baton-charge by the police and an eighth person was run over and killed by an ambulance rushing the injured to hospital. Three of the eight injured persons were in critical condition at the district hospital at Khammam.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy announced a judicial inquiry into the police firing and ordered the suspension of Additional Superintendent of Police Ramesh Babu and transfer of Superintendent of Police Rajeev Kumar Meena.
He said the government would decide on the amount of compensation to the families of the dead after a preliminary inquiry.
The incident happened in Modigunda village in the Khammam district after communist activists and local residents took out a rally and pitched tents on the road, blocking traffic. They threw stones on police when they came to clear the road blockade and tried to attack the local revenue office. The police first baton charged the demonstrators and later opened fire, a senior state police officer said.
Home Minister K. Jana Reddy called the police firing “unfortunate” and conveyed his sympathies to the members of the bereaved families. He said that action would be taken against police officers if they were found at fault by the judicial commission.
He said the government would ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.
