BHUBANESWAR: The fact finding team of the Congress has alleged that five innocent tribals were killed in police firing at Gumudumaha in Kandhamal district during an anti-Maoist operation last month.
The AICC fact finding team comprising former Union Ministers V Kishore Chandra Deo, Jairam Ramesh, Arun Oran, Vincent Pala and KH Muniyappa on Saturday submitted the report to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi.
The report makes it clear that there was neither any crossfire nor an encounter at the place, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan said.
Stating that the killing at Gumudumaha was not a solitary incident, Harichandan alleged that there have been four such incidents in the State during the year in which tribals and Dalits have been killed. He said the State Police is killing innocent tribals by branding them as Maoists and demanded action against officials involved in such cases.
Harichandan and Leader of the Opposition Narsingh Mishra were called for a meeting at New Delhi on Saturday by the party vice-president. The dispute over Mahanadi river water with Chhattisgarh, the all-party meeting called by Mishra and the Odisha bandh call given by Congress on August 16 over the issue, death of children at Nagada, Gumudumaha firing and the Kalahandi incident were discussed.
Alleging that the State Government has failed to protect the interest of the tribals and Dalits, Harichandan said the Congress will launch agitation to fight for their rights. The OPCC president said Gumudumaha issue will be raised in the ensuing monsoon session of the Assembly scheduled from September 21.
AICC secretary in-charge Odisha Subhonkar Sarkar was present at the meeting.