Click to play videoHyderabad: Yet another case of police brutality came to light on Saturday when in the Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh cops open-fired at a rally of Left party activists, demanding free land for the poor.
Eight people were shot dead and several were critically injured. The victims include a woman and a nine-year-old boy.
The Mudigonda in area in Khammam district of Congress-ruled Andhra Pradesh continues to remain tense, while the government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
"The additional SP has been suspended and the district SP is being transferred. We have also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident,” Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said.
According to police, the protestors turned violent when their rally to press for land reforms was stopped. They started pelting stones, injuring at least 10 policemen. The condition of three persons injured in retaliatory police firing is stated to be critical.
“We have deputed a senior officer to inquire into the incident and we'll take serious action against those responsible for the incident,” said Home Minister K Reddy.
The Left parties have been running a campaign called "Bhu Poratam" or struggle for land for the last three months.
On July 26, more than 30 left party workers were injured when Hyderabad Police lathicharged them to prevent them from proceeding towards the state assembly.
Saturday's statewide bandh was in protest against that lathicharge. Now even that had ignited a fresh round of political storm in the state. Top Opposition leaders will visit Khammam on Sunday to join the protests. The left parties have called for Khammam Bandh on Sunday.
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