Patnaik orders SIT probe into Kandhamal killings

Terming the recent killing of five persons during an anti-Maoist operation in Kandhamal as "most unfortunate", Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today directed a Special Investigation Team of the State Human Rights Protection Cell to probe the incident.
"For a thorough and impartial probe into the incident, I have directed that the investigation of the case will be done by a Special Investigation Team of the State Human Rights Protection Cell to be monitored and supervised by an officer of the rank of Additional DG," he said in a statement after reviewing the situation.
"If anyone is found to be of negligent conduct after probe, we shall take stringent action," he said, adding he has also asked the DG Police to have a detailed review and apply required correctives so that such an incident is not repeated in future in anti-Naxalite operations.

At least five villagers, including two women and a child, were killed and three others injured in crossfire during an encounter between security personnel and Maoists at Gumutmaha in Kandhamal district on July 8.
Patnaik said the Kandhamal issue was the most "unfortunate" incident and his government has taken it "very seriously".
"My government is always concerned for the ST, SC and the deprived sections of the society," he said.
Chief Secretary A P Padhi, Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, DG Police K B Singh and Director, Intelligence Sunil Roy and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Earlier, Patnaik had ordered a judicial probe into the incident besides announcing Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia, government jobs and social security coverages for the family of each victim.