TDP legislator Paritala Ravi shot dead

Opposition Telugu Desam Party legislator and former minister Paritala Ravindra and another party activist were today gunned down by unidentified assailants near the TDP office at Anantapur town in Andhra Pradesh today.

The attack took place in full public view when Ravi, who represented Penukonda in the faction-ridden Anantapur district, was coming out of the party office after attending a general body meeting.

Ravi, who had recently sought additional police protection fearing threat to his life, died on the spot as assailants fired seven rounds at him from close range, police sources said here.

Though the opposition leader had 10 gunmen protecting him, the assailants apparently took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere at the party office and made a swift assault. The legislator collapsed and died on the spot.

The incident sparked violent protests and arson in several places across the state. Telugu Desam Party activists burnt dozens of road transport buses across the state in protest against the murder of Paritala.

Tension gripped Anantapur town after the shoot-out with the enraged opposition workers attacking buses and shops and holding up the traffic.

Reports of TDP workers torching buses and shops poured in from Anantapur, Prakasam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Mahaboobnagar, Chittoor and other districts.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up throughout the state following the murder while the authorities have clamped prohibitory orders in Anantapur town to maintain law and order.

Former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has accused the state government and the chief minister of abetting the crime. Accusing the Congress government of resorting to "vindictive killings and making a mockery of democracy", Naidu said his party would "fight it out".

A strong man in the faction-ridden Anantapur district of the Rayalaseema region, Ravindra has been in the hit list of many of his rivals including some Congressmen.

In 1998, he escaped from a car bomb attack in Hyderabad, which was allegedly plotted by one Suri, whose family members were allegedly killed by Ravindra in a 'TV bomb' attack.

The news of the death of Paritala came as a rude shock to the Telugu Desam party, which was holding district level party meetings across the state on Monday under the supervision of its state party leaders. The leaders immediately took to the streets and irate party cadre resorted to stone pelting. In Karimnagar, TDP activists attacked the Congress party office.

Ever since Congress took over the reins of the state, Anantapur district has been witnessing a series of political attacks targeting the opposition cadre.

The TDP had recently launched an agitation protesting against what it called 'targeted and vindictive killings' and demanded the resignation of district minister J C Diwakar Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy condemned the attack and promised a thorough inquiry into the incident. Reddy, who is on a tour in Visakhapatnam, directed director general of police Swaranjit Sen to take all possible measures to maintain law and order.

"This is a very unfortunate incident and should be condemned by all democracy-loving people. We will order a thorough probe and punish the guilty," the chief minister said. The DGP said six platoons of armed policemen had been rushed to Anantapur district to bring the situation under control.