Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baliguda, Jul 13:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) were not followed by the security personnel in Kurtumgarh in Odisha’s Kandhamal district during the anti-Maoist operation which led to the death of five innocent tribals said National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Chairman Rameshwar Oraon describing the incident as ‘unfortunate’.

Rameshwar Oraon

“They have not at all followed SOP. Not at all! Firstly, there was no intelligence input that the Naxals were moving in a vehicle. These civilians were moving in a vehicle. Based their intelligence inputs the policemen should have given a thought before firing since input were that the Naxals were coming on foot and this is a vehicle. Why did they fire at the vehicle when they had specific information that the Naxals were moving on foot?” asked Oraon while interacting with reporters here.

“It is an unfortunate incident. Everybody, the district administration and also the state administration is accepting it should not have happened and it’s an unfortunate incident. Now comes what compensation should be given, what should be done that no such incident takes place in future, we are discussing that. In the evening I will be holding a meeting with the chief secretary, Home secretary, and DG Police. The Commission will request and suggest them to find out and take steps by which no such incident takes place in future,” said Oraon.

Elaborating on his assessment during the on-spot inquiry, the Chairman said:“Whatever the surviving victims and their family members have said, the same has been said by the district administration that they are innocent and civilians, firing should not have taken place. There are no two opinions on this. No one neither the police nor the district administration is contesting that. Had any of them been contesting that there would have been problems."

The chairman suggested for a psychiatric test of the sepoys involved in the firing.

“I have suggested for subjecting the sepoys involved in the firing to psychiatric tests to ascertain what led them to fire when there was no provocation, no firing why did they fire. Certainly, it requires a psychiatric test,” Oraon said.

On being asked by reporters whether any wrong has been committed, he said it's loud and clear a wrong is wrong.

Replying to reporters’ queries on what action will be taken against the erring personnel, Oraon said: “Whatever action is taken against anyone guilty of murder the same action will apply in this case also within the purview of law.”

Oraon directed the state government to see to it that such incidents are not repeated in the future.

The NCST chairman made the statement here today after meeting the kin of the victims of the police firing.

Oraon spent around three hours speaking to the family members of the victims and the driver of the auto-rickshaw which was carrying the victims and others to their homes after they received their MNREGS wages on the fateful day.

Later, Oraon discussed in detail about the incident with the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Southern), IG Police (Southern) and the district collector of Kandhamal.