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Four villagers were killed and 24 others injured when two groups attacked each other with crude bombs and sharp weapons over a land dispute in Vangara mandal of the district on Tuesday, said the police.
According to the police, the incident was the result of an old dispute over the ownership of 60 acres of agricultural land. While members of one group had handed over their land to district authorities for a reservoir project and accepted the compensation, members of another group insisted on using the land for agricultural purposes.
The incident took place in Lakshmipet village of the district at around 10 am, when members of one group saw that some people from the other group had started cultivating the disputed land, following which the clash broke out, police said.
Two persons died on the spot, when members of the groups hurled crude bombs and also attacked each other with sticks, sharp weapons and stones. Two others died on their way to a nearby hospital, an investigating officer said.
"At least 24 persons belonging to both the communities suffered injuries in the incident and were admitted to nearby hospitals," the police officer said.
Additional police force was rushed to the village and the situation was brought under control, with senior officials monitoring the situation, the officer said.
Further investigations are going on.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs one lakh each to the kin of the four persons killed in the crude bomb attack.
The chief minister directed the Srikakulam district collector to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a detailed report immediately.
He also directed the collector to pay Rs 25,000 to each of the seriously injured persons, sources in the Chief Minister's Office said.