‘Kalinga Nagar Police Firing’ Inquiry Commission Report tabled in Odisha Assembly

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KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited Justice P.K. Mohanty Commission inquiry report on ‘Kalinga Nagar Police Firing’ incident of January 2, 2006, was tabled by the state government in Odisha Assembly on Thursday.

The report said that the incident which left at least 13 tribals dead and many others severely injured took place due to frustration among the local tribals who did not get adequate compensation following displacement and land acquisition for TATA’s steel plant.

The inquiry Commission report revealed that the situation got worsened as the local political leaders and NGOs for taking undue advantage of the uneasiness among the tribals.

The report has also made three recommendations –compensation for the injured, people-oriented welfare schemes for the upliftment of locals and jobs to at least one family member of persons who were killed in the incident.

Notably, protesting construction of the compound wall on the land acquired for the project of TATA Company, hundreds of tribals armed with bows and arrows faced off with some contractors employed by company on January 2, 2006. As the protests intensified, locals clashed with policemen and during the incident an irate mob hacked Constable Gopa Mohanty to death. As the situation went out of control, police opened fire killing 13 tribals.

The Odisha government, which called the incident ‘unfortunate’ appointed Justice Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty as Commission of Inquiry vide Home (Special Section) Department Notification No. 3839/C, dated 04.09.2009 to inquire into the incident from the stage it was left over by Late Justice P.K. Patra.

After completion of the inquiry, the Commission submitted its report to Government on July 3, 2015. After being examined in the Home Department, it was accepted by the Government on June 8, 2016.

After being examined in the Home Department, the actions already taken at different levels which were in line with the recommendations of the Commission were examined in a meeting held on January 6, 2016 under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary, Home Department. The Report was finally accepted by Government on June 8, 2017.

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