2 students die in police fire arms demonstration

The incident occurred at the Velerupadu Zilla Parishat High School in Khammam district, about 220 km northwest of Hyderabad, on Wednesday afternoon. The weapons demonstration at the school in the predominantly Maoist-prone area was a part of the ongoing Police Commemoration Week that began on October 15. The demonstration was meant to create awareness about policing among young minds.

According to District Police Superintendent Kranti Rana,  Venkatakrishna, a Class X student, died on the spot  while Sathyasai Babu (Class IX)  died  at Government Hospital at Sattenapalli. Three other students, who were injured in the incident, are being treated at Mamta Medical College Hospital in Khammam. As per students’ request, Andhra Pradesh Special Police constable Srinivasa Rao, who was on guard duty, was demonstrating on how to load bullets in an SLR when it accidentally  fired over the group of children at the exhibition on the school premises, the officer said.

Commenting on the incident, DGP K Aravinda Rao said Srinivasa Rao was over-enthusiastic while displaying his weapon. “It is mandatory for the APSP constables to keep their weapons loaded as they were working in the Maoist-affected district,” he said.
The DGP said  a criminal case under Section 304 (A) of IPC has been registered against Srinivasa Rao. The constable has been taken into custody.