Basu calls for inquiry into Khammam police firing

Kolkata, July 29 (UNI) Veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu today said a probe should be ordered to find out whether yesterday's police firing in Andhra Pradesh was unprovoked.

'' I hope there will be an inquiry to find out whether the firing was unprovoked or absolutely necessary. I hope that our party's Andhra Pradesh unit will raise the demand,'' Mr Basu told reporters at the CPI(M) state headquarters.

In reply to a question on the attack on CPI(M) zonal office in Nandigram today, the nonagenarian leader said, ''This is unfortunate.

It seems Nandigram is not within West Bengal.'' He, however, reiterated that despite provocations, the ruling Left Front had won the Haldia civic polls with the people's support.

Altogether six people, including a woman and a child, were killed and eight injured when police opened fire on a mob of CPI(M) demonstrators at Khammam during a statewide bandh in Andhra Pradesh yesterday. The demostrators were demanding distribution of land to the poor.

UNI