Policeman, gangster killed in gunfight near Hyderabad

Two people including a police constable were killed and a sub-inspector injured in an exchange of gunfire between gangsters and police near Hyderabad, police said here Saturday.

One of the gangsters was killed in the firing that took place late Friday night while three others managed to escape.

The incident took place around midnight at Majidpur village in Shamirpet area of Ranga Reddy district.

Y. Gangadhar, joint commissioner of police, Cyberabad, told reporters that a police party had gone to the village to apprehend a gang allegedly involved in circulation of fake currency. Resisting the policemen's attempts to arrest them, the gangsters opened fire and also attacked them with sharp weapons, injuring a constable and a sub-inspector.

Gangadhar said a sub-inspector returned fire killing a gang member. Three others managed to escape.

The injured constable Eshwar Rao later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital while sub-inspector Venkat Reddy is undergoing treatment.

Police have launched a hunt for the absconding gangsters.

Telangana Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy called on the injured Venkat Reddy in Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad.

He said the government would extend all help to the family of the slain constable who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.

The minister said the government would provide a job to one member of the family of the deceased.