Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed Kandhamal Superintendent of Police to submit a report on death of a couple in an alleged encounter by the security personnel within four weeks.
Hearing a petition filed by lawyer Prabir Kumar Das, the OHRC Acting chairperson Justice Bira Kishore Mishra asked Kandhamal SP to inform what had happened in the alleged encounter on July 26 last.
According to Mr. Das, a couple Dhugeswara Naik (45) and his wife Bubudi Naik (40), residents of Pangala-Padara village, were killed in an alleged encounter in the Madaguda reserve forest under Tumudibandha police station in Kandhamal district on July 26 last.
“During a search operation, the Special Operation Group personnel and police had allegedly exchanged fire with Maoist rebel in the Madaguda reserve forest on July 26 and the exchange continued on July 27. As per report, the police recovered bodies of two persons,” said Mr. Das.
On July 28, residents of Pangala-Padara and other nearby villages staged a demonstration alleging it to be a fake encounter and charged that police were making false claims.
“Janusi, daughter of the deceased couple, said her parents had no connection with the Maoists and they were shot when that had gone to open space to get clearer cell-phone signal,” the lawyer-activist said.
Mr. Das has sought a high level independent inquiry into the incident, besides compensation of Rs.20 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
“Janusi, daughter of the deceased couple, said her parents had no connection with the Maoists”
