Trivandrum, July 3: One woman died on the spot and a man succumbed to his injuries in hospital when police opened fire at Cheriathura near Bhimapalli, a coastal suburb of Trivandrum at noon today.

Five others are in hospital with bullet wounds and the condition of two of them is reported to be serious.

This is the fourth police firing since the Opposition agitation to end the Communist rule in Kerala started on June 12. The other three were at Ankamalli Pulluvila and Kochuveli in which 12 persons were killed and 36 others injured.

A government press note on the incident today said that firing was ordered following “intensified” stone throwing by crowds on a police party as they were trying to clear some road blocks put on their way.

“In order to enable the policemen to clear off the roadblocks, firing was ordered in the direction from where stones were coming,” the press note said.

In all 18 rounds were fired “three sub-inspectors, one head constable, one naik, one lance naik and 14 constables who received injuries at Cheriathura have been admitted in the hospital,” the press note said.