The State Government on Wednesday ordered a RDC-level probe into the incident of police firing on women protesting a liquor shop in Namtara village under Rajkanika village in Kendrapada district on Sunday.
On behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh made this announcement in the State Assembly while replying to an Adjournment Motion in this regard. He said the RDC (Central) would conduct an inquiry into the incident.
Earlier during discussion, Opposition Congress had demanded that a House Committee comprising the Chief Minister as its head and all members of the House as its members be formed to unfold the truth. “A House Committee be formed and all members should go to the spot to find out truth behind the police firing,” leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said while alleging that the police had resorted to police firing illegally on the women and children who had been opposing the liquor shop peacefully in their village.
Terming the incident as shameful, Mishra wanted to know why the Government was yet to take any action against the SP and the district Collector of Kendrapada who he alleged responsible for the incident. He alleged that no action was taken as the owner of the liquor shop was a police officer.
He demanded that that the Government should give adequate compensation to the injured and transfer the SP and the district Collector immediately and close down the liquor shop. Besides, he also demanded that all
arrested be released and criminal cases be withdrawn forthwith. Similarly, Opposition Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati and BJP legislature Party leader Basant Panda alleged that the police had illegally resorted to firing at women and children on the International Women’s Day.
Women of the village had earlier urged the administration to close down the liquor shop from their village before March 8. But the administration didn’t pay any heed to their demand as the liquor shop is being owned by a policeman, he said.
Similarly, Panda said he had gone to the village and found that doors and windows had been broken by the police. “The villagers had been demanding shutdown of the liquor shop from the very beginning. Why no action was taken against themIJ” Panda wanted to know.
Ruling party members like Ved Prakash Agarwala, Pratap Jena, Samir Ranjan Das and Pramila Mallick refuted Opposition charges. Earlier during the Question Hour, members of both Congress and BJP had staged a silent protest holding posters at their seats against the incident. Even BJP legislature Party leader Basant Panda showed a bullet claiming that it was used in the firing. The Speaker adjourned the House for two times till 12.30 pm.