Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baliguda, Jul 19: 

Scores of Odisha Congress workers led by PCC President Prasad Harichandan, AICC Secretary Bhakta Das and former Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi today gheraoed Baliguda police station and staged a demonstration there demanding a High Court monitored judicial probe by a sitting judge in the Kandhamal shootout.

Congress demonstration baliguda

“The SIT announced by the government is eyewash. Its report cannot be trusted. How can a policeman investigate allegations against another? If the Naveen government is any bit serious about the issue, we ask him to go for a judicial probe by a sitting judge monitored by the High Court,” said Prasad speaking to reporters.

“It has been 12 days since the shootings. Why has the government taken no action against the accused police officials? The police are not accepting the FIRs lodged by the family members of the victims. This is an attempt at cover-up. Congress will not allow this,” said Majhi.

Earlier in the day, the Kandhamal unit of Congress had a meeting of its extended body in Baliguda. Party leaders deliberated on several key issued pertaining to the district and a decision was taken to take to the streets demanding basic amenities for the residents of the district.

Justice for Kandhamal shooting victims and allotment of land records to deserving beneficiaries will be at the heart of the campaign, informed Bhakta Das.

It may be noted here that the students’ wing of Congress (NSUI) this morning held a demonstration in Bhubaneswar demanding arrest of southern range IG Amitabh Thakur over the Kandhamal killings.