Left condemns killing of 20 people in AP, seek judicial probe

Condemning the "premeditated" and "cold blooded" killing of 20 labourers in Andhra Pradesh and five undertrials in Telangana, Left parties today demanded probe into the two incidents and compensation to the next of kin of the victims.
In separate statements, the CPI(M) and the CPI sought judicial enquiry into the killing of "ordinary workers" in Andhra Pradesh, alleging they had become the targets of "police brutality".
On the shooting of five undertrial prisoners in Telangana, the CPI(M) said it was a "premeditated" action by police to avenge the killing of two personnel few days ago. The CPI expressed similar views labelling the incident as "vengeance killing".

Condemning the Andhra Pradesh killings, the CPI(M) Politburo said the police claims "are untenable as there is sufficient evidence to show that these labourers were killed with impunity."
It claimed that those killed in Chittoor District were labourers hired for cutting down red sanders wood by those who illegally trade in it.
"The state government and the police authorities have been failing to check the smuggling of red sanders and instead of taking appropriate measures in this regard, ordinary workers have become the target of police brutality," it said and demanded compensation for the next of kin of the Andhra incident victims.

Echoing the sentiment, CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said "till now not a single kingpin smuggler is arrested but only hired labourers are killed. There are allegations of involvement of the ruling party leaders in helping the smugglers. A proper enquiry into the circumstances of killing and smuggling is necessary."
On the Telangana incident in which five undertrials were shot dead in "cold blood", the CPI(M) alleged that the "five young prisoners were being taken to court from Warangal jail to Hyderabad. Midway they were shot inside the police van in what seems to be a staged encounter.