Andhra Govt orders inquiry into firing

The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday ordered a judicial inquiry into the police firing at Mudugonda in Khammam district in which at least six persons were killed.

Announcing this at a press conference in Hyderabad, Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy said the probe would go into the circumstances that led to the firing during a state-wide bandh called by Left parties.

"I will not comment on who is responsible unless we get the full report," Reddy said.

He appealed to political parties not to instigate violence and whip up passions.

"There is no justification for the Left parties to take up an agitation on the land distribution issue as our government has already initiated a massive programme to give house sites and houses to the landless poor," Reddy said.