SLRs used and cops fired 70 rounds within half an hour

Investigation into Police firing after Mecca Masjid blast revels new truth

A week after the Mecca Masjid blast, the facts of police firing are pouring in after the State Government announced judicial enquiry into the incident. The police are busy in preparing their version over the firing incident that claimed five lives. According to available information shows that the police opened 70 rounds at the crowd within a span of half an hour. All the rounds were fried from Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) most of which belong to personnel of the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) attached to the City Police Commissioner. Nearly 45 empty cartridges were recovered, the remaining could not be traced. The number of rubber bullets fired is said to be over 20 while the Rapid Action Force (RAF) lobbed five teargas shells.

It may be recalled that two inspectors E Ramachandra Reddy of Moghalpura Police station and P Sudhakar of Falaknuma police station have been transferred for ordering the police personnel for firing. In the press conference after the incident, the Director General of Police M A Basith in a press conference said that only rubber bullets were fired to disburse the angry mob and there is no scope of any one to suffer injuries.

Meanwhile, the City Police Commissioner, Balwinder Singh said most of the bullets were fired in the air and only when the things appeared to be out of control, did the personnel fire at the mob. He said that he did not have the information exactly how many bullets were used in the incident but said it should be less than 100.

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