Date:16/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/16/stories/2005041609010400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Maoists fire at vehicles, patient dies of shock

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: A patient died of shock when Maoists fired indiscriminately at vehicles on the Darakonda-Duppalavada road in G.K. Veedhi mandal of the district on Friday.

The District Superintendent of Police (DSP), Sanjay Kumar Jain, told newsmen that a 40-strong group of Maoists stopped traffic for over six hours from 11 p.m. on Thursday. As a result, two RTC buses, one lorry and a jeep, besides the ambulance carrying an APGenco lineman, V. Babu Rao (40), to Visakhpatnam for treatment were stranded.

``The Maoists opened fire indiscriminately on the vehicles and the ambulance. Babu Rao died of shock and lack of medical attention. They also opened fire on a jeep coming from Orissa. Some persons were injured in the attack,'' he said.

Asked why the police did not go to the place, the SP said that they received the information only in the morning.