Two students killed as cop’s rifle misfires

HYDERABAD - Two students were killed and two injured Wednesday as a policeman’s rifle went off accidentally during a demonstration of weapons in Andhra Pradesh’s Khammam district.

A student of Class 8 and another of Class 10 were killed when the accident took place while a constable was showing the children a loaded rifle during the ‘open house’ organised by the police to educate children about their duties.

The incident took place at Velerupadu in Khammam district, about 300 km from here.

The dead have been identified as Venkata Krishna and Sai Babu. While Krishna died on the spot, Sai Babu succumbed in hospital. Two other students were admitted to hospital and one of them is stated to be in critical condition.

Director General of Police Aravinda Rao said in Hyderabad that the constable of Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) was showing the loaded weapon to the students in violation of the rules.

The police chief announced that a criminal case would be booked against constable Srinivas and disciplinary action would also be taken against him.

The APSP constable, who was on guard duty at the police station, would be booked for causing death by negligence.

“He may have shown the rifle to students out of over-enthusiasm or out of foolishness. The incident is unfortunate and shameful,” Rao said.

The incident has shocked the people in Velerupadu. Relatives of one of the victim’s and villagers staged a sit-in protest at the police station with his body, demanding compensation for the family.