PTI
 
HYDERABAD, Oct 12: Andhra Pradesh government has sought a CBI inquiry into the communal violence, including the death of six members of a family whose house  was set on fire on Sunday, in Adilabad district.

A CBI inquiry has been sought into the incidents of communal clashes in Bhainsa town during the immersion procession of Goddess Durga idol and death of six persons of a family whose house was set on fire at Watoli village, Home Minister K Jana Reddy announced after visiting the violence-hit areas.

Three persons were killed and others injured during clashes between two groups last Friday and six persons, including three children of a family, were burnt to death at Watoli village when their house caught fire in the wee hours on Sunday.

While curfew continued in Bhainsa, prohibitory orders have been imposed in Nirmal and Adilabad towns as precautionary measures, officials said.

Additional forces have been deployed in Bhainsa to maintain communal harmony and tranquility, they said. The Home Minister, along with the DGP, visited Bhainsa town and Watoli village.

Earlier, Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who also visited the village, demanded a CBI inquiry into Bhainsa clashes and Watoli incident.

Demanding compensation for those who lost their property in the clashes, the MIM leader alleged Hindu fundamentalist groups were behind the incidents.

Earlier, the house, belonging to a minority community member, at Watoli village in the district caught fire around 0200 hours on Sunday, District Collector Ahmed Nadeem said. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the killing.

Venkateshwarlu, Revenue Divisional Officer of Nirmal division, was appointed as inquiry officer and was asked to submit a report within 30 days, District Collector Ahmed Nadeem, who is camping in Bhainsa, said.

The village is 13 km far from the communal violence-hit Bhainsa town. While three bodies were charred beyond recognition, the rest were burnt partially, police said.

The bodies were being removed from the debris and sent for post-mortem, Nadeem said after visiting the village. Five of the victims hail from Hyderabad and had been to their parents' home on Dussehra vacation.

Asked whether the incident has communal overtones to it, the Collector said the truth would be known only after a thorough investigation.