Govt orders RDC inquiry into Kendrapada firing

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Wednesday ordered an inquiry by the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) into police firing on anti-liquor agitators, particularly women, at Namatara village in Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district on March 8.
"The RDC (central division) will inquire into the incident. The government will take stringent action against officers found guilty," parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh told the assembly while replying to an adjournment motion.
Condemning the incident, leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra urged the speaker to form an assembly panel, comprising MLAs of different parties, to take stock of the situation by visiting the village.
"Our demand for a house committee was not considered by the state government. The innocent people will not get justice through a RDC inquiry," said Mishra.
He also demanded action against the collector and superintendent of police of Kendrapara since villagers had informed them about organizing a rally. "The police chased and beat up women and children. It also fired on them," Mishra alleged.
BJP legislature party leader Basanta Panda said when the administrative officers are involved in the matter, how can the RDC (who himself is an administrative officer) be impartial.
Earlier during the day, the Congress and BJP MLAs protested against the incident by standing in their respective seats.
The opposition MLAs displayed banners containing anti-government slogans, torn clothes of women injured in the incident and bullet remains. Amid protest, speaker Niranjan Pujari first adjourned the house till 11:30am and again till 12:30pm before the adjournment debate was taken up.
Nine persons, including women and children, sustained serious injuries in the clash.
The injured are undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. "The government will bear their medical expenses," said Arukh.
The protesting villagers had torched a police vehicle and assaulted seven cops on that day.