Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 20:

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has summoned the state Home secretary, ST and SC Development secretary and Odisha Director General of Police to appear before it on July 21 in connection with Kandhamal police firing in which five innocent lives were lost during an anti-Maoist operation in Kurtamgarh forest on the night of July 8.

Kandhamal encounter

Reports said the NCSC has summoned the state Home secretary, ST and SC Development secretary and DG Police to appear before it tomorrow in connection with the loss of innocent lives in police firing in Kandhamal.

The NCSC Chairman PL Punia had told the media in New Delhi on July 18 that the Commission has served notices to the state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director Intelligence and Director (Operation) Special Operations Group (SOG).

Punia had categorically sought a report from the state government on action against the guilty police officers while emphasizing on the application of provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities against S C & ST Act against them.

Notably, a day after a team of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) led by its Chairman Rameshwar Oraon visited Baliguda block headquarters on July 13 to conduct an on-spot inquiry, Punia visited the same place to conduct the same on July 14.

Punia had in clear terms after his visit said that it was not a case of cross firing as claimed by police but an instance of a unilateral opening of fire by the police when there was no provocation from the other side.

It may be recalled here that three of the deceased in the police firing belonged to the scheduled caste communities.