Two cops killed in midnight shootout

Two others sustain bullet injuries as inter-state gangsters open fire at the policemen who are on routine checking

Hyderabad: Two policemen were killed while two others including a Circle Inspector (CI) and a home guard suffered bullet injuries after two unidentified assailants opened fire on them while they were questioning passengers during a routine checking of vehicles in Nalgonda district in the wee hours of Thursday.The incident occurred at around 12.30 am at the bus stand in Suryapet town when a police team, led by CI Moghalaiah, was carrying out the routine checking of vehicles.

According to police sources, a team under the supervision of the CI nabbed two persons who were moving suspiciously. On questioning them about their identity, one of them suddenly attacked the cops and started firing on them resulting in the instant death of a constable, Lingaiah and a home guard, Mahesh Yadav.“The assailants continued firing and the CI and one home guard Kishore were injured in the firing,” the DSP, Suryapet, Abdul Rashid said adding that the assailants were talking in Hindi who fled the scene after the incident.

The attack came in a matter of seconds and police did not get much time to retaliate, he said.The CI, who suffered two bullet injuries in the incident along with the home guard, was rushed to Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital in Secunderabad for better treatment. Eight special teams have been formed to trace the culprits, the police officials said, adding that they suspected the role of notorious Uttar Pradesh gangster Irfan and his gang in the firing.

Telangana DGP, Anurag Sharma who visited the spot verified the empty cartridges from the spot and said that those types of bullets were used in 7.65 country-made weapons and were commonly used in offences in UP and Bihar. The DGP said that after the incident, the assailants ran on to the National Highway and tried to stop vehicles on the road. They fired at a vehicle in which an MPTC member, Dorababu and his wife from West Godavari District were travelling. When asked the DGP on any role of Maoist, he denied.

The government of Telangana has immediately responded to the crime news and is planning to declare an ex-gratia of around Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 40 lakhs for the lost lives. Home Minister Naini Narsimha Reddy and Minister Jagadish Reddy have visited the location at Suryapet and are following up the case.As per reports last came in, the condition of the CI and home guard were reported to be stable.