Amidst war of words, the ruling BJD and opposition BJP on Tuesday visited the terror-stricken Gumudumaha village even as a National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST) Chairman-led team arrived in the State to probe the killing of five tribals in the crossfire between security forces and Maoists at Krutamgada in Kandhamal district on Friday night last.
While a 10-member team of the BJP led by its State president Basanta Panda visited Gumudumaha, a four-member team of the BJD also visited the spot where the gruesome incident had occurred and spoke to villagers. “We visited the village and families, who have lost their precious members. We demand a High Court-monitored probe into the incident. As the Home Department is held by the CM, he should apologise for the incident on moral grounds. We too will submit a report to the visiting Central team headed by NCST Chairman Rameshwar Oraon on Wednesday,” said Panda.
Meanwhile, BJP national president Amit Shah formed a BJP parliamentary committee consisting of Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Ramvichar Netam and Jyoti Dhurve to visit the State to probe the Kandhamal incident and submit a report to him. State Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi said, “We spoke to the family members of the deceased. We will submit our report to the Chief Minister. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already begun the probe. Based on its report, action will be taken.” Besides Majhi, the team included Sports and Youth Services Minister Sudam Marandi, Handloom and Textile Minister Snehngini Chhuria and former Rajya Sabha member Bhupinder Singh.
Meanwhile, NCST Chairman Rameshwar Oraon accompanied by commission Secretary and Director arrived in Kandhamal on Tuesday. to probe the incident. later, they would hold discussion with the Chief Secretary and the DGP in Bhubaneswar.
Intelligence Director Sunil Roy visited the incident spot and held a meeting with te Southern Range IG, the Kandhamal SP and the IG Operation and Intelligence. Meanwhile, DGP KB Singh said Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) ADG Mahendra Pratap would head the SIT to probe into the mishap.
The DGP further stated that family of each deceased persons has been compensated with a house, and a relative of each deceased would be given SPO appointment. He said a `7lakh ex-gratia was paid to next of kin of each deceased.