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Bomb blast in AP minister's house kills 4

Four supporters of Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Minister and Telugu Desam Party politician Kodela Sivaprasada Rao were killed in a bomb explosion at his house in faction-ridden Narsaraopet in Guntur district late Saturday night.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code were clamped in the area.

Security to politicians of various parties has been enhanced following the incident.

Forensic experts and a bomb-disposal squad from Vijayawada and Hyderabad collected explosive materials for analysis.

A Guntur report quoted Sivaprasada Rao blaming Naxalites who had been provoked by his statement against them.

Talking to reporters, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Mohammad Jani, who is contesting the Guntur-1 assembly seat, demanded the resignation of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the imposition of President's rule in the state to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.

Police said while one person died on the spot, two others died of their wounds at the government hospital and another at the hi-tech hospital in Guntur.

Two rooms on the second floor of the house collapsed in the blast.

Police resorted to caning to disperse supporters of Kasu Venkatakrishna Reddy, the Congress candidate for the assembly seat, who staged a dharna (sit-in) in Narsaraopet, demanding action against the minister for allegedly storing bombs for use during the election.

Supporters of Anna TDP candidate K Venkateswara Rao also staged a road blockade. UNI

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