The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police open fire to disperse clashing groups

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 08, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police open fire to disperse clashing groups

By Our Staff Reporter

ONGOLE, JUNE 7. The police opened fire in the air to disperse supporters of the Martur MLA, Gottipati Ravikumar alias Bujji, and the former MLA and his cousin, Gottipati Narasimha Rao, when they were involved in a fracas at the Revenue Divisional Office premises here on Monday. According to eyewitness accounts, trouble began when Mr. Narasimha Rao and the Addanki MLA, Karanam Balaramakrishna Murthy, along with two Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency members arrived at the office around 10.30 a.m to submit a notice for no confidence against the Ballikurava Mandal Praja Parishad president, Pogula Subba Rao, staunch follower of Mr. Ravikumar. On seeing them, Mr. Ravikumar's supporters turned violent and pelted stones on the vehicles of Mr. Narasimha Rao and Mr. Balaram. As a result, the windscreen of Mr. Rao's vehicle got damaged.

The police rushed to the spot and sensing trouble the town Circle Inspector, G. Ramakoteswar Rao, opened four rounds of fire in the air. With the crowd running helter-skelter and Mr. Narasimha Rao's driver suddenly reversing the vehicle resulted in the photographer of a Telugu Daily, Srinivas Rao, being hit. Mr. Srinivas Rao's left leg got fractured above the ankle and his camera was destroyed. He was immediately shifted to the Government Hospital. Two others also sustained injuries in the clash, said the eyewitnesses.

The CI said he opened two rounds of fire in the air to disperse the crowd, which turned violent. The situation would have gone out of control had he not opened fire, he explained. The Revenue Divisional Officer, A. Prasad, said he received the notice submitted by the Chennupally MPTC, Alla Raja Rao, and Ambadipudi MPTC, Kilaru Chandramouli, containing signatures of nine MPTCs urging him to convene a special meeting of the Mandal Parishad to move a no confidence motion against the MPP president, Mr. Subba Rao. He said he would fix the date for the meeting after verifying signatures of MPTCs.

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Andhra Pradesh