**Bhubaneswar:** Close on the heels of the visit of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Chairman Rameswar Oraon to Kandhamal on Wednesday, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Dr PL Punia is scheduled to visit the district today for an on-the-spot probe into the killings of five villagers at Kurtamguda’s Malapanga forest on July 8 night.
The NCSC Chairman arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here today and is slated to arrive at Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal, at 5 pm on the day and visit Gumudumaha village.
Punia will meet the victims including the three bereft SC families and return to the state capital for night halt at the State Guest House here.
Notably, three among the five innocent villagers killed in the firing of security personnel during an anti-Maoist operation in Kandhamal last week, belonged to Scheduled Caste (SC) community while the two others belonged to Scheduled Tribe (ST).
Also need to be mentioned, NCST Chairman Rameswar Oraon’s voice that sounded tough before media at Baliguda in Kandhamal on Wednesday afternoon amazingly turned numb at the state capital here.
Soon after recording statements of the kin of the deceased and injured at Baliguda in camera, he cried foul at both the Odisha Government and non-adherence of standard operating procedure (SOP) by the security personnel.
On the other hand back in Bhubaneswar and after holding discussion with the Odisha Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and DGP at the State Secretariat, he lauded the initiatives already taken by the State Administration in the wake of the tragic and unfortunate incident.
Talking to media before leaving for Kandhamal, the NCSC chief said, “Even though the area is Maoist-infested and the state police along with paramilitary forces from Centre are deployed to combat the menace, it is a crime to kill innocent people.”
He also said that after having an on-the-spot probe and interacting with the victims, kin and locals there, he would instruct the state officials for actions.
“If required, the issue can be further reviewed at the Delhi level and future course of action will be initiated accordingly,” the NCSC Chairman added.
In a major development of the day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought reports from Odisha Government and the Union Home Ministry on the killing of five tribals during anti-Maoist operations by security personnel in Kandhamal on July 8 night.
NHRC Secretary General Satya Narayan Mohanty, who attended a meeting at the State Secretariat here during the day, told media.
Notably, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has already sought reports from the State Government on the Kandhamal incident.
