CM Orders Probe Into Srikakulam Violence

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Tuesday, directed the Srikakulam district collector to order probe into the violence in Srikakulam that claimed 4 lives and injured 20 others when 2 rival groups hurled country-made bombs at each other.

Taking a serious note of the incident, the CM asked the collector to initiate stern action against the perpetrators of the violence.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also announced ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next to kin of the victims' family, and Rs. 25,000 to those who were seriously injured in the incident.

He also directed the district collector to provide better medical facilities to the injured who were in hospital.

According to reports, 2 groups had reportedly hurled country-made bombs at each other in Lakshmipuram village in Vangara mandal in Srikakulam, in a land dispute.

2 victims succumbed to their injuries at Rajam Hospital, and their identities are yet to be ascertained.

The 2 persons who died on the spot have been identified as P Sundar Rao and S Venkat Rao.

Although the village witnessed violence at 8am, the police reached the spot after 10:30am, due to the poll arrangements. Meanwhile, panic prevailed in the violence-hit Lakshmipuram village. (INN)