The Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by the Odisha government, has from Monday started its second phase of investigation into the killing of five innocent tribals of Gumudumaha village of Kandhamal district during an anti-Maoist operation on July 8.
The first phase of the SIT probe was for ten days from July 17 to 27.
This time, a three-member SIT team, led by the SP of Human Rights Protection Cell of the Odisha Police Gurudas Kundu, has reached Kandhamal district for the second phase. As per the statement of Mr Kundu, during the second phase of the investigation, the SIT team will try to collect more allied information in connection with the shoot-out on July 8 night.
During its first phase of investigation, the SIT had seized the guns, empty cartridges and live bullets related to the incident and sent them to ballistic experts for tests. Report from ballistic experts is awaited.
Meanwhile, civil society and human rights activists as well as local tribals and Dalits have rejected this SIT probe by terming it to be nothing but an effort to suppress the reality. They are demanding a CBI probe and enquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Odisha High Court instead.
