Guntur: Five persons were killed and two injured when unidentified persons hurled grenades at their autorickshaw in Abbinenigunta Vari Palem village in the district this afternoon (June 22, 2004), police said.

While police has confirmed three deaths in the incident, unofficial sources placed the toll at five.

The victims, natives of faction-torn Vellaluri village, were on their way to Abbinenigunta Vari Palem village when about 10 persons ambushed the autorickshaw and hurled grenades.

Five occupants of the auto, including the driver, died on the spot, while the two seriously injured were rushed to the Government General Hospital at Ponnuru.

The attack was attributed to faction feuds in the village as a police picket has been posted in the village for the last one year.