Date:14/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/14/stories/2005051410110400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Judicial probe demanded into firing

Staff Reporter

Suspension of Rayalaseema IG, R.P. Meena, demanded

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has demanded an inquiry by a High Court Judge into the police firing at Penukonda on Friday in which six TDP workers were killed.

He also demanded suspension of the Rayalaseema IG of Police, R. P. Meena, the Anantapur SP, R. S. Praveen Kumar, and reshuffle of police officers in the district. He wanted Mr. Meena and Mr. Praveen Kumar shifted out of district immediately.

He sought posting of impartial police officials and special election observers under the direct supervision of the Election Commission to ensure violence-free polls to the Penukonda Assembly seat. Mr. Naidu is visiting Penukonda on Saturday to console the victims of the firing.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Naidu said the Government had miserably failed to control law and order in faction-ridden Anantapur district. Charging the police with resorting to firing in a hasty manner, Mr. Naidu said as per information an unidentified person, who was not a TDP cadre, allegedly hurled a soft drink bottle at the police.

SP's charge denied

This prompted police personnel to open "indiscriminate firing'' at the cadre. Mr. Naidu denied the Anantapur SP's allegation that TDP workers had hurled bombs during the rally. The SP was following the "personal political agenda" set by Mr. Meena to settle scores with the TDP, he alleged. The TDP president took exception to the Congress counter attack after the incident.

Mr. Naidu said a delegation of TDP MPs had sought an appointment with Election Commission officials to apprise them of the prevailing situation.

YSR asked to quit

Meanwhile, the TDP general secretary, K. Srihari, demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister owning moral responsibility for his failure to control killings in Anantapur.

He made light of the CLP's demand that the TDP president should quit politics as violence broke out in the presence of the his erstwhile Cabinet colleagues and the TDP cadre failing to honour the agreement signed by leaders with officials.

B. Dattatreya, BJP national secretary, demanded a judicial enquiry into the police firing. In a statement, the BJP leader demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident. He expressed doubts whether the byelection would be peaceful and wanted the Election Commission to ensure that it passed off without any untoward incident. Mr. Dattatreya blamed the police for failing to control the TDP supporters' procession.