SIT probe into Kandhamal deaths to begin soon: DGP

Bhubaneswar: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Odisha government to probe into the death of six tribals, who were killed during an alleged encounter between the security personnel and the Maoists inside Malapanga forest near Kurtamgarh in Kandhamal district on July 8, will begin very soon.

“The SIT will begin its investigation very soon. Prior to its investigation, two senior officers—Director, Intelligence, Sunil Roy and IG, Operations, Soumendra Priyadarshi—reached Kandhamal today and had a meeting with the IG, Southern Range, Amitabh Thakur and SP Pinak Mishra on the incident,” Director General of Police (DGP) KB Singh told media persons here today.

Asked about the modus operandi of the investigation, he said; “Everything will be clear after the investigation is completed.”

The SIT investigation began a day after the directive of chief minister Naveen Patnaik to this effect at a high level review meeting here yesterday.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, the chief minister had said to ensure a thorough and impartial probe into the incident, he has directed an investigation of the case by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the State Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) to be monitored and supervised by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General (ADG).

“If anyone is found guilty of negligent conduct after the probe, we shall take stringent action. I have also directed the DGP to have a detailed review and apply required correctives so that such an incident is not repeated in future during anti-Maoist operations,” Patnaik had said.