Hyderabad: As many as 50 MLAs belonging to
opposition TDP, CPI, CPM and BJP were suspended for a day from
the Andhra Pradesh Assembly this evening after they stalled
its proceedings over the police firing incident in Sompeta
mandal of Srikakulam district.
Unconfirmed reports said three persons were killed in the
firing while many others suffered injuries in related
incidents.
The firing took place when the locals, mostly belonging
to the fishermen community, launched an agitation protesting
against the setting up of a thermal power plant in Sompeta.
The incident rocked the state Assembly today with the
entire opposition stalling the evening session demanding a
statement from the Home Minister on it.
The session was adjourned twice as TDP, CPI and CPM
members stormed the Speaker`s podium and demanded a statement
from the Home Minister.
Repeated pleas by Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar that
the government would make a statement tomorrow after obtaining
full details about the incident did not satisfy the agitated
members.
Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy told the House after
it re-assembled 50 minutes after the first adjournment that
the situation in the trouble-hit Sompeta was still not under
control.
"Visakhapatnam Range Deputy Inspector General of Police
Soumya Mishra, Srikakulam district Collector N Srikanth and
other top officials are on the spot, personally monitoring the
situation.
They are trying to bring the situation under control and
restore normalcy," the Home Minister said.
She said more details about the incident were awaited and
such she could not make a statement immediately on the
incident.
The opposition strongly protested this and wanted the
minister to give whatever information she had.
With the minister not responding, the opposition members
squatted in the Well of the House raising slogans condemning
the police firing.
At that stage, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for
a second time and invited floor leaders of all parties for a
discussion with the Speaker to resolve the issue.
PTI
