Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Phulbani, Jul 11:

Normal life was paralyzed in Odisha’s Kandhamal district today due to a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Congress and BJP protesting the killing of innocent tribals at Kurtumgarh during combing operation on Friday night.

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While shops, business establishments, banks and educational institutions remained closed, vehicular movement came to a grinding halt as activists of both the parties staged road blockade by burning tyres at several places and junctions in Baliguda, Phulbani, G. Udayagiri and K. Nuagaon, sources said.

As many as seven companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 20 platoons of special Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and 16 platoons of police force have been deployed in the district to maintain law and order and prevent untoward situation, sources added.

"People of Kandhamal have supported the bandh. Such incidents of killing innocent tribals are not new. Similar incidents have taken place in the past in Rayagada, Nuapada, Malkangiri and Kalahandi. The agitation will be held across Odisha until action is taken against Kandhamal SP Pinak Mishra and Southern Range IG Amitabh Thakur," said Congress leader Pradip Majhi.

"The report of Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) says that the tribals were fired from a distance of 3 metres. The SOG jawans knew that they were innocent people but still fired at them," Majhi claimed.

On the other hand, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said that the incident is being politicized by the opposition parties. The State government has started judicial inquiry into the matter, he added.

Notably, five villagers, including two women and a child, were killed during a combing operation near Gumudumaha village under Baliguda police limits in Kandhamal district on Friday night.