Tuesday, October 18 2005 19:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Two Congress workers were killed and another person grievously injured today (Oct 18, 2005) when gunman of a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader opened fire following group clashes in Kadapa, the home district of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, police said.

The trouble broke out at Velpula village, which falls under Chief Minister's assembly constituency of Pulivendula, during the filing of nominations for the cooperative societies elections, police said.

What started as a minor skirmish between the supporters of TDP Secretary Satish Reddy and the ruling Congress activists soon turned into a pitched battle, prompting the gun man to open fire.

A Congress worker Ramakrishna Reddy died on the spot while another person Gangi Reddy succumbed on the way to hospital, police said.

Later, the enraged Congress activists went on a rampage attacking the Opposition workers and torched the TDP office at Pulivendula.

The rival groups clashed at Chinnakesavapally in the district, prompting the police to clamp prohibitory orders.

Tension prevailed in Pulivendula and its surrounding villages as angry Congressmen took to streets and held protest demonstrations.

As the situation was threatening to spin out of control following firing by the gunman, Satish Reddy, who had contested against the Chief Minister in the last year's Assembly polls, went into hiding along with some of his supporters.