Three political activists -- two of the ruling Congress and one of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party -- were killed and six others injured in a clash in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
According to the police, the rival groups threw stones and later attacked each other with lethal weapons in Erukalacheruvu village in Krishnagiri mandal early morning. Three persons died on the spot while six others sustained injuries and were shifted to the Government Hospital at Kurnool town for treatment.
The police said that Monday's incident was a sequel to the bickering between the two groups ever since the local bodies (panchayat raj) elections were held earlier this year. Erukalacheruvu village, which was a stronghold of the Telugu Desam, witnessed bitterly-fought elections in which the Congress candidates won both the gram sarpanch (village head)'s post and the mandal parishad (territorial constituency)