Srikakulam Fisher Man Protesting

3 killed in AP police firing

Hyderabad, Feb 28, DHNS:

Three persons were killed and 15 severely injured in police firing on fishermen protesting against the construction of a thermal power station in the fragile wetlands of the coastal Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh on Monday.

The agitators from 20 villages, mainly from Kakarapalli, Akasalakkavaram and Vadditandra of Santabommali mandal, fought a day-long battle  against the construction of   the  power plant by East Coast Energy Private Ltd (ECEPL) with armed police who laid siege to their villages and restricted their movement for almost a week. Angry fishermen and women armed with boulders  and sticks engaged in a fiery battle with the police. Villagers in Kakarapalli torched a police van after chasing away the police. Trouble began when the police tried to evacuate fishermen from Vaddithandra village, half  kilometres from the project site, anticipating trouble during the unloading of the plant equipment which was expected to arrive in two days. The police, who initially lobbed tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets,  resorted to firing to quell the irate mob. Over 50 houses were gutted in Vaddithandra village with the thatched roofs catching fire from the gas shells. The injured were admitted to Tekkali Government Hospital.  Bharatamma, a villager of Hanumanthnaidu Pet, said police fired 10 tear gas shells into her house to make the family members leave the village. District Superintendent of Police KVV Gopala Rao said prohibitory orders were in force till March 10 and the police had to use force as the situation turned violent. A few policemen were also injured. The police had provided full security to the company to move its equipment to the site. However, Andhra Pradesh DGP Aravinda Rao denied such reports and said: “We have instructed the police not to use live bullets. They were supposed to use only rubber bullets. But death could occur if rubber bullets were used from close quarters