By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad Aug.1:Khammam District Sessions Judge Jagannath Reddy has said, quoting eyewitnesses, that the Mudigonda police firing was provoked by CPI-M leader Bandi Ramesh. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had asked the sessions judge to conduct an inquiry into the firing of July 28 which claimed seven lives.
Mr Jagannath Reddy submitted the report to the High Court after visiting the spot and recording statements of eyewitness. One witness told the judge that the incident occurred because of the “adamant attitude of Bandi Ramesh who is aspiring to become a State leader.” According to him, Bandi Ramesh urged the crowd to “revolt against the police” when cops were trying to disperse them. “The entire episode was triggered by the provocative speech of Bandi Ramesh,” the judge quoted another eyewitness as saying.
Mr Jagannath Reddy criticised the police for exceeding limits by firing even towards the first floor of a shopping complex. “They should have resorted to lathicharge and should have fired below the knee,” said the report. “But instead, they aimed directly at the mob.” Police did not seek permission from the Mudigonda Tahsildar before opening fire, said the judge.
He also quoted another eyewitness as saying that the Additional Superintendent of Police reached the spot in a drunken state and ordered the cops to fire. Mr Jagannath Reddy examined 13 witnesses and took photographs of the scene of offence. He also found many empty cartridges and bullet shards in the area.
The report states that people became restive when Rayala Venkateswarlu, president of the Rythu Sangham, was beaten by police. “The stone pelting was spontaneous and police opened fire perceiving a threat to their lives,” it says. Meanwhile, the State government has told the State Human Rights Commission that police had not made proper arrangements to tackle the agitation and this led to the firing.
District Collector Sasibhushan Kumar informed the SHRC that police did not bring water cannons and teargas shells to Mudigonda and were under the impression that this was going to be an ordinary agitation. When things got out of hand, they had to resort to firing. The collector has also accused Bandi Ramesh and his followers of provoking the police with his speech. Police have booked two cases against Ramesh and his followers as per the complaints of Circle Inspector Surender Reddy and Sub-Inspector Venkat Reddy.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
List judicial probe terms
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed that the State government place before it on Thursday the terms and references of the judicial commission which is yet to be constituted to probe into the Mudigonda police firing.
A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while dealing with a writ petition filed by Telugu Desam secretary P.N.V. Prasad on Mudigonda police firing in which seven people were killed and seven others injured, asked the State government to submit the terms and references of the probe.
The Chief Justice pointed out "why did not you (State government) arrest leaders of the movement to prevent this (firing), when the agitation for lands (Bhoo Poratam) had been going on for more than two months". After studying the reports of Khammam district session judge Jagannath Reddy and Director-General of Police M.A. Basith, the Chief Justice observed that prima facie the firing was unjustified.
At this stage, Advocate-General C.V. Mohan Reddy pointed out that the court can not make these observation till the completion of hearing and the court can express its opinion during the hearing. The Justice said "we are expressing only our opinion". The AG said even if it is an opinion it will hit the headlines tomorrow. The Chief Justice said "Press has freedom on what to and what not to report. Even some times they publish the orders which are not passed by the court".
Petitioner's counsel and senior advocate S Ramachandra Rao urged the court to put some sort of pressure on the police and the State government to prevent them from "killing innocent people". He wanted the court to withdraw from the police the power to shoot for some.
Hyderabad, July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed that the State government place before it on Thursday the terms and references of the judicial commission which is yet to be constituted to probe into the Mudigonda police firing.
A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while dealing with a writ petition filed by Telugu Desam secretary P.N.V. Prasad on Mudigonda police firing in which seven people were killed and seven others injured, asked the State government to submit the terms and references of the probe.
The Chief Justice pointed out "why did not you (State government) arrest leaders of the movement to prevent this (firing), when the agitation for lands (Bhoo Poratam) had been going on for more than two months". After studying the reports of Khammam district session judge Jagannath Reddy and Director-General of Police M.A. Basith, the Chief Justice observed that prima facie the firing was unjustified.
At this stage, Advocate-General C.V. Mohan Reddy pointed out that the court can not make these observation till the completion of hearing and the court can express its opinion during the hearing. The Justice said "we are expressing only our opinion". The AG said even if it is an opinion it will hit the headlines tomorrow. The Chief Justice said "Press has freedom on what to and what not to report. Even some times they publish the orders which are not passed by the court".
Petitioner's counsel and senior advocate S Ramachandra Rao urged the court to put some sort of pressure on the police and the State government to prevent them from "killing innocent people". He wanted the court to withdraw from the police the power to shoot for some.
Raze video hoardings: HC
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to stop video advertising on the streets within its jurisdiction with immediate effect.� A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy gave this order while dealing with petition against Light Emitting Diode (LED) advertisements on the city streets.
The Chief Justice observed that that GHMC seemed to be deliberately inviting accidents by erecting such LED hoardings in streets. GHMC�s counsel Ramachandra Reddy, too, admitted that some such LED hoardings had caused road accidents.
"Since you have admitted it, take remedial action," said the judges. "We cannot compromise on public safety. They are posing a threat to the safety of the man walking on the street. We are not going to allow you to keep them even for a day."� The bench remarked that a three-member advocates committee has found that GHMC had violated a resolution passed by the standing committee of the erstwhile MCH while allowing LED hoardings.
The judges also said that the case should not come in the way of payment of ex-gratia to the family of a person who was killed in a hoarding collapse".
Hyderabad July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to stop video advertising on the streets within its jurisdiction with immediate effect.� A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy gave this order while dealing with petition against Light Emitting Diode (LED) advertisements on the city streets.
The Chief Justice observed that that GHMC seemed to be deliberately inviting accidents by erecting such LED hoardings in streets. GHMC�s counsel Ramachandra Reddy, too, admitted that some such LED hoardings had caused road accidents.
"Since you have admitted it, take remedial action," said the judges. "We cannot compromise on public safety. They are posing a threat to the safety of the man walking on the street. We are not going to allow you to keep them even for a day."� The bench remarked that a three-member advocates committee has found that GHMC had violated a resolution passed by the standing committee of the erstwhile MCH while allowing LED hoardings.
The judges also said that the case should not come in the way of payment of ex-gratia to the family of a person who was killed in a hoarding collapse".
Law on bandh damage soon
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad July 30:The State government on Monday submitted to the High Court that the government is contemplating bringing a legislation, AP Public Property (prevention of damage and recover of loss) Bill 2007, to recover loss due to damage of public property caused by political parties and other organisations during agitations.
The government has informed the court that the Bill was circulated to the Centre to get approval. Principal secretary (home) P.V. Naidu and principal secretary (transport, roads and building) T. Chatterjee submitted their affidavits to the court. On July 7, the High Court had questioned the government role while dealing with a PIL on the April 4 bandh call given by political parties to protest the Supreme Court decision on reservations to OBCs.
The court had asked the government to explain the legal provisions for withdrawing bus services and the names of the parties which had called the bandh. The government told the court that the APSRTC did not withdraw services on April 4, it covered 22.82 lakh kilometres as against normal service of 68 lakh kilometres per day on April 4.
The government said that the Congress, TD, CPI(M), CPI, TRS , BJP and BC organisations had organised the bandh. From April 10 to till date, 194 bandhs and dharnas have been organised, the government said.
Hyderabad July 30:The State government on Monday submitted to the High Court that the government is contemplating bringing a legislation, AP Public Property (prevention of damage and recover of loss) Bill 2007, to recover loss due to damage of public property caused by political parties and other organisations during agitations.
The government has informed the court that the Bill was circulated to the Centre to get approval. Principal secretary (home) P.V. Naidu and principal secretary (transport, roads and building) T. Chatterjee submitted their affidavits to the court. On July 7, the High Court had questioned the government role while dealing with a PIL on the April 4 bandh call given by political parties to protest the Supreme Court decision on reservations to OBCs.
The court had asked the government to explain the legal provisions for withdrawing bus services and the names of the parties which had called the bandh. The government told the court that the APSRTC did not withdraw services on April 4, it covered 22.82 lakh kilometres as against normal service of 68 lakh kilometres per day on April 4.
The government said that the Congress, TD, CPI(M), CPI, TRS , BJP and BC organisations had organised the bandh. From April 10 to till date, 194 bandhs and dharnas have been organised, the government said.
Mudigonda firing : Ex-Naxal incited riot
By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad July 30:Former Naxalite Bandi Ramesh, who joined the CPI (M), instigated the agitators at Mudigonda to hurl stones at private vehicles and police on Saturday, leading to the firing that killed six persons and injured several others, according to the preliminary findings of senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (Co-ordination) Lokendra Sharma, who is conducting a departmental probe into the incident.
Sources in the State police headquarters told this newspaper that Mr Sharma, who is camping in Khammam, informed the findings to DGP M.A. Basith and additional Director General of Police (Law & Order ) A.K. Mohanty on Monday over phone.
Mr Sharma also informed that the district administration had failed to make proper bandobust, despite prior information that Ramesh was planning to create disturbance, the sources said.
Mr Sharma has reportedly questioned the officers and police personnel at the firing spot and recorded their statements. The police personnel reportedly told Mr Sharma that when the agitating mob turned violent, the situation had gone beyond control and additional superintendent of police M. Ramesh Babu reached the spot along with some policemen in plainclothes and ordered firing.
Hyderabad July 30:Former Naxalite Bandi Ramesh, who joined the CPI (M), instigated the agitators at Mudigonda to hurl stones at private vehicles and police on Saturday, leading to the firing that killed six persons and injured several others, according to the preliminary findings of senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (Co-ordination) Lokendra Sharma, who is conducting a departmental probe into the incident.
Sources in the State police headquarters told this newspaper that Mr Sharma, who is camping in Khammam, informed the findings to DGP M.A. Basith and additional Director General of Police (Law & Order ) A.K. Mohanty on Monday over phone.
Mr Sharma also informed that the district administration had failed to make proper bandobust, despite prior information that Ramesh was planning to create disturbance, the sources said.
Mr Sharma has reportedly questioned the officers and police personnel at the firing spot and recorded their statements. The police personnel reportedly told Mr Sharma that when the agitating mob turned violent, the situation had gone beyond control and additional superintendent of police M. Ramesh Babu reached the spot along with some policemen in plainclothes and ordered firing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)