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Patra panel issues summons to four Gorkha policemen

CUTTACK: Justice P K Patra Commission of Enquiry probing into January 2, 2006 Kalinga Nagar police firing incident on Monday issued summons to four Gurkha policemen of 6th and 7th battalion of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) for their deposition before the Commission.

The four policemen were deployed at Kalinga Nagar on the day of the incident and had filed their affidavits before the Commission. The four have been asked to face the Commission on September 6 and 7 where they would be cross-examined by lawyer Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, who is appearing on behalf of some tribal persons of the locality.

At least 14 tribals were killed on that ill-fated day of 2006 when police opened firing to disperse a group of tribals, who had gathered to protest against the construction of a boundary wall of the proposed Tata Steel in Kalinga Nagar, about 70 km from here in Jajpur district. One policeman was also allegedly killed by the protestors on that day at the spot.

Earlier on Sunday, Justice Patra had visited the spot in Kalinga Nagar and had interacted with local officials and the tribals of the area to get firsthand information about the incident that took place more than two years ago.

Justice Patra, a retired judge of the state High Court was appointed to probe into the incident in January this year after Justice A S Naidu, a sitting judge of the HC suspended the probe in November 2007. Justice Naidu had to shelve the probe following a Supreme Court ruling that sitting judges of HCs should not be allowed to head the judicial probe panels.

Meanwhile, another retired judge of the High Court, Justice Basudev Panigrahy probing into the Kandhamal strife of December 2007 began the third phase of hearing of the Commission here on Monday. According to reports, three Christian pastors deposed before the Commission on Monday who were cross-examined by the lawyers of the opposite parties. Justice Panigrahy would hold the sittings of the Commission here till Thursday.

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