Date:06/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040655190600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Constable opens fire inside Kakinada hospital

Staff Reporter

KAKINADA: A police constable opened fire in the Government General Hospital causing serious injuries to two male nurses B. Prasad and S. Venkata Ramana in the early hours of Saturday.

Another hospital employee K. Sitaram collapsed due to chest pain when he witnessed S. Venkata Ramana being chased by the armed constable P. V. Ramana. The condition of Prasad is stated to be critical.

Trouble first broke out late Friday night when P.V. Ramana and another constable V. Veerabhadram brought an under-trial prisoner Y. Punnaiah, a cancer patient, from the Rajahmundry Central Jail for treatment in the hospital.

According to the hospital authorities, Ramana wanted the prisoner Punnaiah to be given treatment immediately. While Prasad and S. Venkata Ramana, both male nurse orderlies, were answering his queries, the constable sat in the chair of the Casualty Medical Officer Ranga Rao amid objections.

A verbal duel ensued and subsided after Dr. Ranga Rao persuaded the constable not to create a nuisance. The doctor told them that he would refer the remand prisoner to an appropriate ward in the morning. Having felt that the constable was drunk, the CMO did not pick up an argument.

According to Dr. Ranga Rao’s statement to police, the constable returned around 6 a.m. along with his weapon (.303 rifle) which was deposited in the police outpost Friday night, and opened fire at Prasad. A bullet pierced Prasad’s body below the left collar bone. The constable then shot at S.Venkata Ramana who too was in the same ward, even as he ran for his life. He sustained a bullet injury in his right hand. Another bullet whizzed past the head of Sitaram who collapsed on the spot.

Later, Veerabhadram and other constables took P.V. Ramana into custody. Non-medical employees of GGH went on a flash strike, demanding stern action against the constable.District Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi and Superintendent of Police Y Nagi Reddy visited the hospital. The SP said the constable was placed under suspension pending inquiry.