Police Firing in Andhra Pradesh Condemned

[Statement issued by the politbureau of the CPI(M)]

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the killing of eight persons in police firing in Mudigonda, near Khammam in Andhra Pradesh. The dead included a student and a woman. The police resorted to brutal firing on people participating in a peaceful rasta roko as part of the bandh to protest police repression and the refusal of the government to concede their genuine demands. The CPI(M), CPI and 195 mass organisations have been conducting a peaceful movement for house sites and land for the poor, since May 2, 2007.  The struggle entered a new phase on July 22 with the indefinite hunger strike launched by leaders of the CPI(M) and  CPI.

Instead of discussing and settling the issues, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh resorted to brutal attacks against the people. Hundreds of people were seriously injured in police lathicharges in different parts of the state and thousands were sent to jail. Leaders including B.V. Raghavulu, Member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau,  P Madhu, Member of the CPI(M) Central Committee and K Narayana, Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of the CPI who were on indefinite hunger strike were forcibly arrested at midnight on Friday.

The genuine demands of the people for house sites and land cannot be suppressed by such brutal display of force.

The Polit Bureau urges upon the government of Andhra Pradesh to immediately concede all genuine demands. The PB also demands firm action against the police officers responsible for the firing and payment of adequate compensation to those killed.

The Polit Bureau calls upon all its units throughout the country to protest against this brutal police action.