The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police fired from a van in Sompeta: probe panel

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Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police fired from a van in Sompeta: probe panel

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The police firing on protestors against thermal power plant proposed by Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) near Sompeta in Srikakulam district on July 14 was deliberate and at the behest of NCC as it had taken place when the protestors were returning home, an independent fact-finding committee alleged here on Monday.

SI blamed

After speaking to different sections of people and meeting district Collector Srikanth on July 24 and 25, the team concluded that firing was done from inside a police van without any provocation and warning. Several eye-witnesses told the team that SI of Sompeta, Ashok Kumar, had fired from the police van.

Speaking to mediapersons the fact-finding team comprising social activists and public-spirited individuals entirely blamed the State government for Sompeta incidents.

Court order bypassed

The government owes an answer to people as NCC had tried to carry out certain works when an injunction order issued by a local court restraining the company from entering the lands of petitioners (people of these villages) was in force, they said.

The committee observed that the police had gone round the villages during July 11-13 and conducted flag marches.

They had also distributed leaflets and threatened the villagers not to come towards NCC lands and foisted cases on those opposing the power plant. The committee found no truth in the allegations that extremists could be behind the agitation.

The team demanded that the government pay an ex-gratia of Rs. 20 lakh each to the kin of those killed in the firing, Rs. 5 lakh each to those suffered bullet and spinal injuries, Rs. 2 lakh each to those suffered fractures and Rs. 1 lakh each to those who suffered other serious injuries. It also sought a survey of the wetlands (‘bela') in Srikakulam district.

Panel members

The committee consisting of C. Ramachandraiah, Clifton D'Rozario, Arun Patnaik, K. Laxminaryana Reddy, M. Thimma Reddy, Saraswati Kavula and D. Suresh Kumar was headed by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court P.K. Mishra.

Except Justice Mishra others were present at the press conference.

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