Odisha Police begins probe into Kandhamal killings

A day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed a Special Investigation Team to probe the killing of five persons in Kandhamal district, Odisha Police today rushed its Director of Intelligence to the spot.
"Director, Intelligence Sunil Roy has gone to the spot. The government had constituted a SIT. They will begin probe into the matter. After that, everything will be clear," DGP K B Singh told reporters here.
Roy visited the spot in Kandhamal district where five persons including two women died allegedly after being caught in a cross-fire between the security personnel and the Maoists in the night of July 8.

Meanwhile, according to a report, Roy had a meeting with IG, Operations Soumendra Priyadarsi, Kandhamal SP Pinak Mishra and Southern Range IG Amitabh Thakur in Phulbani before leaving for the spot.
Patnaik yesterday had announced a SIT probe by the Human Rights Protection Cell into the Kandhamal firing which claimed lives of five tribals.
The Chief Minister had also said the investigation by the SIT would be monitored and supervised by an officer of the rank of Additional DG.
The chief minister has also directed DGP to have a detailed review of the incident and apply required correctives so that such incident is not repeated in future anti-Maoist operations.

Five villagers, including two women and a child, were killed during exchange of fire between Special Operation Group (SOG) jawans and Maoists at Malapanga forest in Kandhamal district on Friday night.