Odisha CM orders SIT probe into Kandhamal killing

Bhubaneswar, July 11: A day before the Central
team led by National Commission for Scheduled Tribe Chairman Dr Rameshwar Oraon
arrive in Odisha to probe the killing of five tribals in a crossfire between
security forces and Maoists in Kandhamal district on Tuesday, Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik on Mondya announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe
into the case.

Patnaik announced this after reviewing the incident
with Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Home Secretary Asit Tripathy, DGP KB Singh and
Director, Intelligence Sunil Roy.

The DGP briefed the Chief Minister about the mishap.

“For a thorough and impartial probe into the
incident, I have directed that the investigation of the case will be done by a
Special Investigation Team of the State Human Rights Protection Cell to be
monitored and supervised by an officer of the rank of Additional DG. If anyone
found of negligent conduct after probe, we shall take stringent action,” Patnaik
told reporters after taking stock of the situation.

The Chief Minister also directed the DGP to have a
detailed review and apply required correctives so that such incident is not
repeated in future in anti naxalite operations.

He also stressed that his Government is always
concerned for the ST, SC and the deprived sections of the society.