Odisha Crime Branch to probe Sunki ghat blast

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 2:

Odisha government today ordered a Crime Branch probe into the landmine blast near Mungarbhumi on Sunki ghat in Odisha’s Koraput district which claimed at least eight lives.

The Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Division of the Crime Branch would investigate the incident. A four-member team headed by a DSP-ranked officer would leave for the site to probe into the tragedy, sources said.

“A four-member team would visit the blast site tomorrow to investigate the incident. The team would be accompanied by forensic expert team. Statements of eyewitnesses and blast survivors would be recorded,” Crime Branch Special DG BK Sharma told media this evening.

Earlier in the day, Inspector General (Operations) R.P. Koche, Intelligence Director Sunil Roy and DIG S Shyni visited the spot.

Notably, eight police personnel died and five were injured in the landmine blast yesterday afternoon in Sunki ghat while 13 assistant drivers and driver havildar were travelling in a police vehicle towards Angul to attend a training programme.

Five critically injured were admitted to a private hospital in Visakhapatnam where condition of two was said to be critical.

On the other hand, the mortal remains of the martyrs kept in coffins, wrapped in the national flag were given a guard of honour by the state police at the Koraput parade ground.