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Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Taking strong note of the death of three civilians who were gunned down by security personnel during an anti-Maoist operation, the Odisha Human Rights Commission has directed the South Western Range DIG to conduct a probe into the matter. The commission has asked the DIG to complete the probe and submit a report on the same within four weeks, informed sources.
"The commission today issued the direction to the DIG and asked him to investigate into the causes of deaths of three persons and injury of two others," said an OHRC official.
On the other hand, the family members were handed over the bodies of the deceased today for last rites.
Notably, in a bizarre incident, three villagers including a ward member were killed and two minors injured when the security personnel opened fire at them during a combing operation in the Karlapat forest in Kalahandi district on Sunday evening.
According to reports, the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and the SOG personnel, while on a joint combing operation inside the Karlapat forest, noticed the movement of some people. Suspecting them as the Maoists, they opened fire at them in which three of them died on the spot while the two others identified as the minors sustained bullet injuries.
During investigation it was revealed that the victims and the injured were the residents of Panchgulgaon area.
The deceased were identified as Panchgul ward member Jaishankar Naik, Shukru Majhi and Panchu Majhi.
The injured minors – Arjun Majhi and Ichhu Majhi – were later admitted to the District headquarters hospital for treatment.
“I have had a word with the families of the victims. Our efforts are on to ensure all sorts of assistance from the government are extended to the bereaved families,” said Bhawanipatna Sadar BDO, Gyanaranjan Bhanja.
