At least two villagers were killed and around 25 others left injured when police opened fire after a protest against the setting up of a power plant turned violent at Kakarapalli, 2 km from Vadditandra in Santabommali mandal in Srikakulam district on Monday.
According to reports coming in, the victims have been identified as Nageswara Rao and Erraiah. Nageswara Rao hailed from Akasalakkavaram and Erraiah from Beerapuvanipeta.
Meanwhile, one protestor, identified as Raju, sustained grievous injuries when the police fired rubber bullets to control the protesters.
According to reports, tension has been prevailing in the village after police lathicharged 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 on the protesters. However, the villagers resorted to pelting stones on the police and torched a police jeep.
Seven 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 two victims dead on the spot. About 130 people were taken into police custody.
People from 36 villages are opposing the proposed 2,640 MW coal-based power plant set up by East Coast Energy Private Ltd at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore at Kakarapalli in 3,333 acres. They are opposing the plant, saying that the project would destroy the ecology and will take away their livelihood.
The fisherfolk 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 police firing on the protesters. The DGP said that he would seek a report from Superintendents of Police and make a statement on the issue.
When asked how the protestors could have died when rubber bullets were used, Mr Aravinda Rao said that fatalities could occur if a person is shot at, at a close range.
Meanwhile the State Human Rights Commission chairman directed the Superintendent of Police, Srikakulam to submit a comprehensive report on the incident by March 22. The SHRC also directed the district health authorities to provide medical assistance to victims.
Reacting to the developments, Lok Satta Party demanded a white paper on power generation in North Andhra and how many power projects the government had given a clearance for.
It may be mentioned here that on July 15 two 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 crore.