CI, gunman shot dead by naxals

By Our Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM, SEPT. 28. Suspected naxalites of the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) shot dead the Salur Circle Inspector, Mr. M. Gandhi, who was instrumental in the Koppadangi encounter, and his gunman, Ch. Chiranjeevi, in the court hall of Salur Munsiff Magistrate in Vizianagaram district on Friday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, the CI, who attended the court in connection with a case, deposited his gun with the gunman as no arms are allowed inside the court room and sat near the witness box. The gunman stood guard at the entrance of the hall as the Magistrate was hearing a case.

Four naxalites, dressed in ordinary clothes, approached the entrance and shot at the gunman in the chest and seized the gun from him. The gunman ran in panic to the court clerk's room but another naxalite fired at him killing him on the spot.

When the CI was about to come out of the room, the naxalites fired at him from point blank range. One bullet pierced through his temple and another through his chest. Even after the police officer collapsed in a pool of blood, the naxalites pumped bullets into his back. He died on the spot.

Shocked lawyers and clients in the court hall hid under tables and benches while the Magistrate ran for safety into his chamber, followed by the Salur Sub-Inspector, Mr. Lakshmana Murthy, who was also present in the court room. The Magistrate bolted him inside a toilet. The armed naxalites entered the court hall and searched for the SI in vain.

Incidentally, the AP Civil Liberties Committee District Secretary, Mr. Delhi Rao, was present in the court room.

Dr. Soumya Mishra, Superintendent of Police, and other police officers rushed to Salur on receiving information. The police recovered 12 empty cartridges from the court hall. According to a report from Hyderabad, the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, condemned the killings. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved families and assured of all possible help to them.

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Section  : Southern States
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