Congress: Orissa Tribals are being killed by BJD govt

Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prasad Harichandan on Saturday alleged that the state police was killing innocent tribals and then branding them Maoists.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi before submitting the Congress fact-finding team report on the Gumudumaha killing to party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Mr Harichandan said tribals opposing the ruling BJD’s “tyranny” in Orissa were being treated as rebels and being killed in cold-blood.

“Four such cases have been reported from across the state in recent times. After being killed, the tribals are branded as Maoists. The top officials involved in such incidents must be taken to task,” the OPCC chief said. Talking about the report of the fact finding team — which included former Union ministers V. Kishore Chandra Deo, Jairam Ramesh, Arun Oraon, Vincent Pala and K.H. Muniyappa — the OPCC chief said the tribals were killed by jawans.

On the night of July 8, five innocent people, including a 15-month old infant, were allegedly killed by security forces during an “anti-Maoist operation” in Gumudumaha village of Kandhamal district.

“The report makes it clear that there was neither any crossfire on the spot nor any encounter as claimed by the Orissa government. The innocent people were killed by the bullets fired by Special Operation Group jawans,” Mr Harichan stated.

The OPCC chief, who reportedly held an hour-long discussion with the Congress vice-president, said the party would raise the issue in the ensuing session of the Assembly to corner the ruling BJD.

“The BJD has failed to protect the interests of the tribals, and we will ensure that they get their rights they are entitled to,” he observed.