Eight die in rival party battle in India

Supporters of two rival parties attacked each other with bombs and sickles in southern India, killing eight and injuring several

Supporters of two rival parties attacked each other with bombs and sickles in a southern Indian state today, killing eight and injuring several, police said.

All the victims were from the Congress party, which is an opposition group in Andhra Pradesh state, ruled by the Telugu Desam Party.

The clashes began when 25 activists of the Congress attacked the home of Venkatappaiah Naidu, a Telegu Desam leader, with handmade bombs early Friday in Kurnool, 126 miles south of Hyderabad, the state capital.

Naidu's security guard opened fire to ward of the attackers, who fled.

Naidu's supporters, however, chased them some distance and attacked them with bombs and sickles.

In the fighting that ensued, eight Congress activists died when their necks were slashed with sickles, police said. Several were injured.

The killings took place in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, notorious for violence and political killings. The clash occurred just three weeks after eight Congress activists were killed in a similar attack in Guntoor, 186 miles east of Hyderabad.

The Telugu Desam is an ally of the Hindu nationalist–led federal government. The Congress party is in the opposition in the national Parliament.