Date:07/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/07/stories/2008040758891000.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Constable dismissed for firing on hospital staff

Staff Reporter

Condition of one of the staff members is still critical

Kakinada: Police constable P.V. Ramana who opened fire from his service rifle on two male nurses at the Government General Hospital (GGH) here on Saturday, was dismissed from the job by SP Y. Nagi Reddy.

Cases have been booked under Sec. 307 of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act. Both are non-bailable warrants. Meanwhile, the condition of one of the nurses B. Prasad who was shot from a close range by the constable is stated to be still critical as the bullet had pierced his chest below the left clavicle caused massive internal bleeding.

Confrontation

Another nurse S. Venkata Ramana and hospital employee Sitaram are receiving treatment in GGH. Their condition is stable. GGH Superintendent Dr. M Surya Kumari has, in a press release, stated that the constable Ramana was drunk and he picked up a confrontation with the hospital staff when they objected to his lying on a bed in the casualty ward meant for patients. Around 7 a.m. of April 5, the constable set himself out on the firing spree, unleashing a reign of terror as the staff ran to save their lives. He wanted to settle scores with nurses who pulled him up for creating nuisance on the night of April 4.