Cong team in Kandhamal, party workers-police clash near DGP office

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: A Congress team Friday undertook a fact-finding tour of Kandhamal where five civilians were killed last week during anti-Maoist operation even as protesting party workers clashed with cops near the state police headquarters in Cuttack today.

The clash between Congress workers and police personnel took place when demonstrators protesting against the Kandhamal incident of July 8 were prevented from entering the high security office premises.

Congress workers under the leadership of PCC treasurer and party's city chief Md Moqim went in a rally to submit a memorandum to DGP K B Singh demanding action against southern range IGP and Kandhmal SP for the Gumudumaha incident.

As the sloganeering rally reached the main gate of the police headquarters, jostling and pushing between the deployed policemen at the closed gate and a group of Congress workers began leading to a clash when tomatoes and water pouches were hurled at the policemen from behind.

While Congress leaders alleged that a woman protester was injured in police action, the police denied it.

The situation was brought under control and a delegation headed by the City Congress chief was allowed inside the headquarters to submit their memorandum to the DGP.

"The DGP has assured us that he will take appropriate action on our demands," Moqim said.

Meanwhile, a Congress team led by Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Narasingha Mishra visited Kandhamal and took stock of the situation in the area where the incident had taken place on the night of July 8.

The team, which also included some MLAs, met the family members and relatives of the victims.

Mishra said the focus of the visit was to try and find out the reason behind the incident. An on the spot stock taking of the episode was conducted, the Congress leader said, hitting out at the state government for the incident.

Terming the judicial inquiry and probe by a special investigation team (SIT) ordered into the incident as simply an eyewash, Mishra said strong action should be taken against those responsible for the tragedy.