Deadline can't be set in investigation into Kandhamal killings: SIT

Berhampur: Additional director general of police, Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC), Mahendra Pratap, who is heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into the alleged crossfire between police and Maoists near Gumudumaha village in Kandhamal district, ruled out any deadline for completion of the probe.
"We have started inquiry into the incident in which five persons were killed.It's difficult to set any deadline. Our team will try to complete the investigation as soon as possible," Pratap said. He along with five other officers of the SIT is in Baliguda in Kandhamal to investigate the July 8 incident.
The chairpersons of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Rameswar Oraon and National Commission for Scheduled Castes PL Punia, who had visited the district to inquire into incident last week, emphasized on the need to complete the investigation in three months.
The government in its office order for constitution of the SIT on July 12 did not fix any deadline for completion of the probe.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and the BJP, are sceptical about the inquiry by the SIT drawn from state police. The parties demanded that the SIT probe be monitored by court.
After interacting with the survivors, almost all opposition parties and rights campaigners said that there was no encounter. The tribals were killed by the bullets which came from one side where there were jawans.
Pratap said the SIT would investigate from all angles by visiting the spot and discussing with the injured, survivors and other people of the village and try to find out the fact.
"We will play the role of the facilitator to the SIT," said IIC, Baliguda police station, Jaswant Hial. The SIT members discussed about the incident with local police at Baliguda on Monday.