Kandhamal district Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra told The Hindu over phone that “about three to four persons have been killed during an exchange of fire”.
Advertisement
By Our Representative In an incident which human rights activists of Odisha have characterized as “fake encounter”, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Kandhamal district of Odisha have allegedly shot dead six persons, including a child.
As a precautionary measure, elaborate security arrangements were made with deployment of adequate forces in order to prevent any untoward incident and maintain law and order, a senior police official said.
“If anyone is found to be of negligent conduct after probe, we shall take stringent action”, he said, adding he has also asked the DG Police to have a detailed review and apply required correctives so that such an incident is not repeated in future in anti-Naxalite operations. The police said the victims were caught in crossfire. Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik announced ex gratia payments of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased and a job for at least one family member of each of the deceased. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Navin Patnaik, while expressing deep concern over the incident ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. He has also set up a special investigating team (SIT) to probe the case. Monday’s announcement coincided with Kandhamal district observing a total bandh in protest against the killings and reports of public demonstrations and burning of the chief ministers effigies pouring in from different parts of the state.
Odisha PCC vice-president Pradeep Majhi hit out at the state government for the tragedy and dubbed it as “anti-tribal” and “anti-Dalit”.
Advertisement
Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said killing of the tribals on the pretext of countering Maoists is most unfortunate.
