An effigy of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was burnt and immediate suspension of IG Southern Range demanded by Students Congress who took out a rally in the city today to protest against the killing of five villagers during anti-Maoist operations in Kandhamal.
A bike rally was taken out by Students Congress activists from Congress Bhawan after which police detained several of them after a scuffle with security personnel.
Students Congress state president Itish Pradhan shouted anti-government slogans and burnt the effigy of the chief minister and demanded immediate suspension and arrest of IG Southern Range Amitabh Thakur in connection with the killing of five innocent villagers in the anti-Maoist operation in the jungles in Kandhamal.
Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said over 50 activists were detained after they tried to break the cordon at Sishu Bhawan Square.
Thakur had said that the villagers were killed after being caught in a cross fire on July 8 night.
While the student activists of Congress staged a
demonstration in the state capital, party's senior leaders including OPCC president Prasad Harichandan gheroed Baliguda Police Station in Kandhamal district.
Harichandan demanded a neutral investigation monitored by a sitting High Court judge.
George Tirkey, a prominent Tribal leader of Adima Adivasi Maha Sangathan and Adivasi Darbar along with other six leaders of the organisations today visited the encounter site and demanded apology from Patnaik.
He called for more exgratia to the bereaved families and stringent action against the concerned police officials including the Kandhamal SP and IG.
