Police still counting bullets fired on Dec 6

HYDERABAD: Ten days after the Dec. 6riots in the Old City, the authorities are still figuring out just how manyshots were fired by the police.This assumes significance in thelight of complaints by some residents of the riot-hit localities that some ofthe fire came from private guns and not just police weapons on the night of Dec.6.However, with three forces - the Hyderabad City Police, the APSpecial Police and the Rapid Action Force - opening fire on the rioters thatnight, it is not clear who shot how many rounds and whether there were anyunaccounted shots. “We are still calculating. It is complicated because ofthe involvement of three agencies,� police commissioner R P Singhsaid.Initial reports received at the Police Control Room on thenight of Dec. 6 put the number of shots fired at 145. The city police say theallegations of private gunfire are baseless. But all the same, the police havenot followed up on an assurance from the chief minister that all samplespointing to any involvement of private individuals would be sent for forensicexamination.Adding to the confusion, before any forensic expertscould visit the riot-hit areas, MCH workers not only swept but also washed thestreets clean in preparation for VIP visits. Therefore, the police have nomaterial to send to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).Sources inthe FSL said they found samples of ammunition used in self-loading rifles, .38mm and 9 mm weapons — all of them normally used by police and defencepersonnel.However, police sources confirmed to The Times of Indiathat many anti-social elements too have procured.38 and 9mmpistols.Interestingly, doctors at the Osmania General Hospital foundentry and exit wounds on the bodies of the two victims who died of bulletwounds. No one knows the calibre of the bullets that killed these two persons,FSL sources said.“Had the MCH not swept the places clean, thebullets could have been recovered and matched with the body samples of the dead.This would also have helped us know if the bullets came from police guns orprivate weapons,’’ a source in the FSL said.Singh ruledout the involvement of private gunmen in the firing. Asked why the samples ofbullets and the guns used in firing were not sent to FSL, he said that thequestion of sending the samples for examination does not arise when there is nodispute.