Khammam, October 21: Two students were killed when a rifle went off accidentally during an exhibition and demonstration programme of police weapons and communication equipment in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh Wednesday afternoon.
As part of the police commemoration week, the district police have organised an open house and public display of police weapons at various places since October 15.
Khammam SP K R Tata said that at one such exhibition at Velarupadu village police station, a constable was demonstrating loading and unloading of a 9mm carbine and decided to use a live round when it accidentally went off, killing Class 10 student Venkatakrishna and Class 8 student Saibaba.
“We had made sure that all the weapons on display were unloaded. This particular carbine, which went off, was also empty. However, towards the fag end of the exhibition, a group of students insisted that the constable demonstrate how to load and unload a cartridge. He should not have done it but when he was unloading the cartridge it went off. Since the students were standing very close to each other, the bullet when through one boy and pierced the other boy,” the SP said.
While Venkatakrishna, 15, died on the spot, Saibaba died at the Khammam District Hospital. Director General of Police K Aravinda Rao said the constable of Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) was showing the loaded weapon to the students in violation of the rules. “A case of causing death due to negligence is being filed against the constable,” Rao said.
–Agencies