Mobs torched nearly 100 state-run buses and hurled stones at government buildings in southern India on Monday after an opposition politician was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, police said. Police fired in the air in several districts of Andhra Pradesh state to disperse rioting activists of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) who also tried to burn the office of the ruling Congress party in two districts, they said.
The violence came hours after P. Ravindra, a former state minister and TDP leader, was gunned down outside the party office in Anantpur town, about 375 km (230 miles) south-west of the state capital Hyderabad.
A political associate of Ravindra and a security guard were also killed in the attack.
TDP leaders said the Congress party, which won national elections last May, had withdrawn security cover of several TDP politicians, making them vulnerable to attacks by political rivals. Congress won power in Andra Pradesh in state elections also held in May.