Security personnel in Odisha kill three villagers mistaking them to be Maoists

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhawanipatna, Nov 15:

At least three innocent villagers were killed and two minors seriously injured when police and SOG jawans opened fire on them today mistaking them to be Maoists, during joint combing operations in the Karlapat forested area in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, reports said.

The critically injured minors have been admitted to the district headquarters hospital here, reports added.

Reportedly, all the deceased are natives of Nisanaguda in Panchakula village. The three deceased have been identified as Panchu Majhi, Sukru Majhi and Jay Shankar Naik. Deceased Jaya Shankar Naik is a ward member of the village.

The critically injured minors are Arjun Majhi and Ichhu Majhi. While Arjun has been by a bullet on his nose Ichhu has been hit on his back. All of them had gone to the forest to graze their goats when security personnel fired at them suspecting them to be Maoists. Three of them died on the spot.  Bodies of the three deceased villagers have been allegedly taken away by the security personnel, reports said.

According to sources at the police headquarters security personnel had exchange of fire with Maoists during combing operations at Gundi under Bhawanipatna Sadar police limits in the Karlapat  forest. Security personnel had seized four guns and some articles used by the Red rebels during the combing operations. Again Maoists fired at security personnel. During the return fire by the security personnel these villagers who had come to the forest to graze their goats came in the line of fire, the sources added.