India: Seven deaths intensify fears of excessive use of force by police against land protestors in Andhra Pradesh Amnesty International is concerned at reports of excessive and unnecessary use of force by police in Modugonda village, Khammam district, Andhra Pradesh against farmers, political party workers and others demonstrating in response to local land distribution issues on 28 July 2007.
According to reports, the police opened fire on protestors resulting in the death of seven persons, the seventh succumbing to his injuries the following day. At least twelve people are also reported to have sustained injuries as a result of the firing and a lathi (long wooden stick) charge by police.
Though events leading to the shootings remain disputed, reports suggest that violence erupted when police reportedly targeted and beat a worker of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) who had been campaigning for land rights, which had helped organize the demonstration along with the Communist Party of India.
According to reports, less than ten members of the 500 person strong crowd responded to the beating by throwing stones, which prompted a senior police officer at the scene to open fire. Subsequent firing was reportedly carried out by state %u201Cspecial party personnel%u201D- members of a unit specifically trained and deployed to respond to naxalites - leftist armed group members - operating in the state.
