BJP, Congress Observe Shutdown Protesting Kandhamal Encounter

KANDHAMAL: Normal life affected in Kandhamal district as opposition Congress and BJP on Monday observed dawn-to-dusk shutdown protesting against the killing of five tribals during the exchange of fire between security personnel and Maoists.

Holding the Odisha government responsible for the death of villagers, both the parties staged picketing and burnt tyres at several places.

The transportation facility got affected while the shops in the market remained closed.

“The state government can be blamed for the death of innocent tribals. The government is anti-tribal. We want a judiciary probe by a sitting judge,” said BJP president Basant Panda.

The Congress party took out rallies at several places. The party workers also indulged in burning tyres on the road.

“The agitation will be spread all over the state. The incident shows that ‘Taliban Sasan’ is going on in the state,” said former Congress MP Pradeep Majhi.

As the state government has ordered a judiciary inquiry into the incident, he said the order of the government is a farce.

However, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said the state government would act against the persons involved in the unfortunate incident.

Meanwhile, some people also allegedly detained Inspector General of Police (Southern) Amitabh Thakur near the college of the district town demanding impartial probe into the incident.

Two platoons of force have been deployed to maintain law and order in the district.