Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, July 12:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Amit Shah has formed a three-member team that would visit Gumudumaha in Odisha’s Kandhamal district where five tribals and Dalits were killed during an anti-Maoist operation.

Kandhamal encounter

“Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed its deep sorrow on the killing of innocent tribals in Kandhamal (Odisha). BJP National President Amit Shah has constituted a three-member committee to visit the place of incident and submit its report to the National President,” National General Secretary Arun Singh said in a press release today.

The parliamentary team comprises of Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, National Vice President, Jyoti Dhurve, National Secretary and Ramvichar Nitam, National Secretary of the party.

Earlier in the day, a ten-member fact-finding team led by BJP state unit president Basant Panda visited Gumudumaha village. The team went to the place where the five villagers were gunned down by the SOG jawans late on Friday night, besides grievously injuring five. The members also met the family members of the deceased and injured villagers.

Panda today reiterated his demand for a High Court monitored probe instead of the SIT investigation ordered by the Chief Minister.

“The SIT probe by HRPC is eyewash. We demand a High Court-monitored probe into the incident. As Home department is held by Chief Minister, he should beg apology on moral grounds,”state BJP President Basant Panda said.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram today met the Kandhamal firing victim at SCB Medical College and Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

“The Kandhamal incident is deplorable. It is unfortunate that the DGP is yet to visit the village,” Union Minister Jual Oram said.

Under attack from political opponents for not visiting the hamlet, a four-member team of the ruling BJD today left for Gumudumaha five days after the incident. Tribal Welfare Minister Sudam Marandi, Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi, Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria, and former Rajya Sabha MP Bhupinder Singh are part of the team.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Chairman Dr Rameshwar Oraon arrived in the capital city. Oraon is scheduled to hold meetings with Chief Secretary AP Padhi and DGP KB Singh. Besides, he is slated to visit Kandhamal tomorrow.