Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar/Berhampur, Jul 10:

Politics is hotting up over the death of five innocent Adivasis including a two-year-old child who were allegedly killed in police firing during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, as Opposition parties attempt to make hay while the sun shines.

Kandhamal encounter

“Kandhamal incident in most unfortunate, it appears after 2005, the Kalinganagar incident has been repeated. The appalling thing is a two-year-old child is among the victims who were killed in the police firing, which has never happened in any state in the country. This is the main issue. If at all the auto-rickshaw came in between while they were firing at the Maoists, why did they fire at the auto-rickshaw? When the police were acting to contain Maoists how could it fire on common people?” asked senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra speaking reporters here.

“The manner in which the government announced for a judicial inquiry and Rs 5 lakh assistance to the next of kin of those killed in the firing proves that the government is guilty. It is similar to that of a guilty person surrendering before the police. Similarly, the government has surrendered before the common people. It’s not that only five or six have been hit by the bullets, the number of victims is pretty more,” said Mohapatra.

The senior BJP leader condemned the statements given by the SP and the IG.

“The government is attempting to escape by ordering for a judicial inquiry and financial assistance to the kin of the deceased. The statements made by the SP and the IG are condemnable. They should be immediately removed from there. Exemplary action needs to be taken against them. Since they are involved in the killing of six Adivasis, murder cases should be lodged against them, otherwise, it will lead to a severe reaction among the Adivasis in the state like it had happened after the Kalinganagar incident,” warned Mohapatra.

Similarly, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram while criticizing the state government for the incident said: “This is outright murder. Naveen Patnaik is responsible for it. This is a reflection of the anti-Adivasi mindset of the Naveen Patnaik government. This is sheer goondagiri and is aimed at suppressing Adivasis. It’s a conspiracy of the Biju Janata Dal to stifle the voice of Adivasis. A high-level team of the Centre led by the chairman of National Commission for Schedule Tribe Rameswar Oram will visit Kandhamal and submit a report to the Centre. I hold this government this unfortunate and condemnable incident.”

The Congress too hit out at the Naveen Patnaik government for the incident.

“Whatever has happened in Kandhamal is unfortunate and condemnable. This is a barbaric attack of the police on innocent people. Odisha government in an anti-Adivasi government, be it Kalinganagar or elsewhere Adivasis are being murdered for different reasons. If it’s being coined as accidental, then make it clear that nobody can go on the roads in Maoist-affected areas and if anyone dares to go can be hit accidently hit by bullets. If at all it was not done intentionally, while knowing well that this can happen then also the person is criminally liable. The Chief Minister is fully accountable for this,” stated Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly and senior leader Narasingha Mishra commenting on the incident to reporters.

The Left parties too have condemned the action of the police in the Kandhamal incident, while demanding Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and charge the police for murder.

“We have been demanding from the beginning and I reiterate that security personnel for whose careless attitude precious lives of innocent people were lost be immediately charged with murder. They should be immediately arrested for murder,” said Ali Kishore Patnaik secretary CPI (M) who visited the injured Adivasis undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur.

Terming the incident as an accident, the BJD, accused the Opposition of politicizing the incident by giving it political colour and dragging the name of the Chief Minister in one and every odd incident. The ruling party termed the act of the Opposition as political opportunism and said it not in the interest of the people.

“The government has ordered a judicial inquiry and announced monetary compensation for the kin of the victims. The government and the Chief Minister are taking whatever administrative action and steps that are needed. Adding political colour to each and every incident and reap political benefits out of it, I feel is not in the interest of the people. It’s an accident and dragging the Chief Minister into it, is an example of weak mentality and political opportunism,” said Prasanna Acharya, BJD vice president.

On the other hand, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb told the media that action would take over the incident tomorrow.

“The incident is surely a sad incident. According to preliminary reports, the incident was accidental. A judicial inquiry has been ordered. Whosoever is guilty be it the SP or the IG or any officer of the lower rank stringent action is a must. Since yesterday was second Saturday, and today is Sunday-both being holidays, what action the government will take will be known tomorrow after offices re-open. The incident is sad and all I can assure you is that action will be taken,” informed Deb.