Gajbhiye deposes on Namtara police firing

Suspended IPS officer Satish Gajbhiye today appeared in person and deposed before Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of central range A B Ota, who is probing into alleged police excess, including firing on anti-liquor agitators at Namtara village in Kendrapara district of Odisha in March 2015.
Former PSO and driver of Gajbhiye, former Kendrapara SP, and some others also appeared before the RDC.
With this second phase of recording the statements of the witnesses, the RDC has till now completed a major portion of the inquiry, recording statements of over 50 witnesses.
At least 16 witnesses, including the former district collector Pramod Das have deposed before the RDC earlier this month. Nine persons, including women and children had sustained bullet injuries when police opened fire on the agitators triggering a state-wide public outcry.

"The then SP has also submitted his statements in the form of an affidavit and answered to all my queries, which have been recorded," the RDC said indicating he would soon submit his report to the state government.
Notably, the RDC had visited Namtara village for two days last month and had recorded the statements of the victims.