2 people were killed & 25 people were injured when police opened fire on people protesting against the setting up of ECEPL's coal-based power plant in Kakarapalli.
2 villagers were killed and around 25 others were injured on Monday when the police opened fire after a protest against the setting up of a power plant turned violent. The cited power plant is located at Kakarapalli, 2 km from Vadditandra in Santabommali mandal in Srikakulam district.
The victims have been identified as Nageswara Rao and Erraiah, hailing from Akasalakkavaram and Beerapuvanipeta respectively.
A protestor, identified as Raju, sustained grievous injuries when the police fired rubber bullets to control the mob.
According to reports, tension has been prevailing in the village after police lathi-charged the villagers on Saturday.
Matters took a dramatic turn on Monday morning when the villagers tried to storm the plant. The police lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets at the protesters. However, the villagers resorted to pelting stones on the police and torched a police jeep.
7 police personnel, including DSP of Kasibugga town AVL Prasanna Kumar, suffered injuries after coming under the hail of stones pelted by around 200 villagers.
Sensing situation going out of control, the police opened fire, leaving the 2 victims dead on the spot. Around 130 people were taken into police custody.
People from 36 villages have opposed the proposed 2,640 MW coal-based power plant to be set up by East Coast Energy Private Ltd. (ECEPL) at a cost of Rs. 12,000 crores at Kakarapalli spread across 3,333 acres. They are opposing the plant saying that the project will destroy the ecology and will take away their livelihood.
The fisher folk communities have been on a relay hunger strike for the last 195 days in Vadditandra, 50 km from Srikakulam, opposing the power plant.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police Aravinda Rao stated that he had not ordered the firing on the protesters. The DGP said that he would seek a report from the superintendents of police, and make a statement on the issue.
When asked about how the protestors died even when rubber bullets were used, Aravinda Rao said that fatalities could occur if a person is shot at from a close range.
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairman has directed the Superintendent of Police, Srikakulam, to submit a comprehensive report on the incident by March 22nd. The SHRC also directed the district health authorities to provide medical assistance to the victims.
Reacting to the developments, Lok Satta Party (LSP) demanded a white paper on power generation in the north Andhra region, and an account of the number of power projects cleared by the government.
It may be mentioned here that, on July 15th, 2 persons were killed due to police firing at Sompeta in Srikakulam district after the villagers protested against the laying of a foundation stone for a thermal power plant to be built by the Nagarjuna Construction Company at a cost of Rs. 1,200 crores.
Courtesy: INN