Telangana: Armed men open fire; 2 policemen dead

Two policemen were killed while three others including a Circle Inspector and a Home Guard suffered bullet injuries after two armed assailants opened fire on them during vehicle checking in Nalgonda district of Telangana in the wee hours today, police said.

The incident occurred at around 12.30 AM at a bus stand in Suryapet town when a police team, led by CI Moghalaiah was carrying out checking of buses, they said.

The assailants, while on the run also fired at some cars soon after the incident and injured a Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) member Dorababu who suffered bullet injuries on his shoulder, Telangana Director General of Police Anurag Sharma said.

The offenders are suspected to be from Uttar Pradesh or Bihar as country-made weapons normally used in offences in northern India were used in this attack, the top police officer said adding the details would, however, be clear only after completion of investigation.

A state-level checking of buses had been intensified following information that some offenders from other states were indulged in robberies in buses and other places, the Telangana Police Chief who visited the scene of offence told reporters.

"Based on that input, the CI with four policemen were carrying out checking of buses in Suryapet town. On suspicion, police asked two bus passengers to get down and started questioning them, when they suddenly attacked the cops and began firing on them resulting in the death of Constable lingaiah and Home Guard Mahesh on the spot," the DGP said.

CI Moghalaiah and Home Guard Kishore too came under the attack, while the armed men fled the scene even before the police team could retaliate, he said.

Moghalaiah, who suffered two bullet injuries in the incident along with the Home Guard were rushed to a hospital in Hyderabad and their condition is stable, Sharma said.

"Special teams have been formed to nab the absconding accused and police teams from Hyderabad have also joined the search operation. Empty cartridges found from the spot are being verified. They are used in 7.65 country-made weapons. Such weapons are commonly used in offences in UP and Bihar," Sharma added.

A carbine is missing from the policemen who came under the attack, the Telangana DGP said.

Reacting to a query on involvement of Maoists in the incident, Sharma replied in negative.

"We are probing from all angles...The offenders will be caught soon," he said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Suryapet (Sub-division), Abdul Rashid said during initial questioning, the duo displayed two voter cards that carried their residence address as Sundergarh district in Odisha.

He, however, said the cards could be fake.

Telangana Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy, who visited the injured policemen at a private hospital here, said there are reports that gangs from UP and other states are committing crimes in the state.

"Police are monitoring their activities and a strict vigil has been kept to control them. The CI, who suffered bullet injuries will be operated upon. According to doctors treating the CI and the Home Guard, their condition is stable," Reddy said.

The Home Minister said he will ensure that apart from ex-gratia, all necessary financial help will be given to family members of the deceased cops besides employment to one family member each.

"Ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh will be given to the family of the constable and Rs 10 lakh to the Home Guard," Reddy added.