Cops Mistake Villagers for Maoists, Kill Them
BHUBANESWAR/BHAWANIPATNA:An anti-Maoist operation in Kalahandi district went horribly wrong when three villagers were killed allegedly during an exchange of fire between anti-Naxal forces and Maoists in Jugsaipatna reserve forests under Bhawanipatna Sadar police limits on Sunday. While police said the three were caught in the line of cross-fire, two teenagers injured in the firing alleged that the security personnel fired at them mistaking them for Maoists. The deceased were identified as Sukru Majhi, Jaya Shankar Naik and Jaya Majhi, all natives of Nisanguda village.
Naik is ward member of Panchkula. The two who escaped with minor injuries were admitted to district headquarter hospital at Bhawanipatna. Arjun Majhi and Pichu Majhi, both about 16 years of age, said they were out looking for their goats when they came under fire. Sources in the State Police said the Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force (DVF) were combing Jugsaipatna forests after receiving specific intelligence inputs about Maoist movement. After sweeping one part of the forest, the units apparently sighted Maoists in another area where the exchange of fire started across a nullah in the deep forests. However, after the exchange of fire, the securitymen found three bodies which were later identified to be villagers.
Police claimed that four country-made guns were found from the spot and the locals could be out in the forest for hunting purposes. Kalahandi SP Brijesh Rai said the villagers are believed to have come in the line of fire during the encounter. “Illegal fire-arms, probably meant for hunting, were found from the spot,” he said. During subsequent combing in the area, the security forces found .303 ammunition which suggested movement of Maoists in the region. The bodies have been sent for post mortem.
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