TDP candidate injured as cops fire in air to disperse YSRC

A Telugu Desam Party candidate and a police assistant sub-inspector were injured accidentally Saturday when his two personal security officers fired in the air to disperse YSR Congress workers allegedly attacking him in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The incident was triggered by a clash in Mantralayam assembly segment in Khaggal village between followers of sitting YSR Congress MLA Balanagi Reddy and P Tikka Reddy, the TDP candidate for the April 11 polls, they said.

District Superintendent of Police Fakkeerappa Kaginelli placedTikka Reddy's two personal security officers under suspension for alleged negligence of duty, sources said.

Tikka Reddy went to Khaggal, Balanagi Reddy's native village, to hoist the TDP flag as part of his election campaign but the latters supporters allegedly attacked him.

"Balanagi Reddys wife and nephew attacked me," Tikka Reddy alleged, adding his PSOs opened fire in the air to quell the mob.

In the process, two bullets "misfired," causing an injury on Tikka Reddys leg, police said. A police assistant sub-inspector Venugopal was also injured in the incident.

"The gunmen did not follow due diligence while opening fire. There was no imminent threat but our people opened fire in haste," the district SP told PTI.

Accordingly, the two armed constables were placed under suspension, he added.

Tikka Reddy has been shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad for treatment.

A case has been registered against the two groups over the clash.

Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election.