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Encounter: OHRC grills two policemen

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Tuesday heard two police personnel who were involved in an encounter alleged to be a fake one at Birubai village in Rayagada district last year.

One Sirimajhi Paleka of Birubai village in Rayagada district was killed in the police firing. Wife of the deceased, Mali Paleka, had approached the OHRC seeking a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs and punishment for police officials responsible for the ‘fake encounter.’

Two police officials -- K. K. Dangayat, then circle-inspector of Rayagada, and A. K Das, the then sub-inspector of Chandli police station, were summoned by the commission to present their version.

According to Biswapriya Kanungo, counsel for Mali Paleka, the police officials could not give satisfactory answer on the police firing.

They said three officials along with one platoons of CRPF personnel had gone to Bagudi Ghati following information that Surya Dalam, a naxalite group, had assembled there.

When the police reached Birubai village, they noticed an unusual movement.

As they go closer, they were fired upon in the night. They retaliated in which a person, later identified to be Sirimajhi Paleka, was found dead, two policemen said.

Mr. Kanungo said the policemen could not answer as to how many suspected naxalites were involved in the exchange of fire.

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