Naxalite hand in DIG death ruled out

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: State Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra today ruled out Naxalite involvement in gunning down of South Western Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Jaswinder Singh at Badakutinga in Rayagada district.

Talking to the media here today, he said, ''The DIG was killed yesterday by accidental firing from a gun of one of the two personal security officers accompanying him''.

Mr Mishra said the Inspector General of Crime Branch is personally investigating the case.

He further said police was also investigating under what circumstances did the incident occur and what compelled the guards to open fire.

The two security officers and the driver of the vehicle are being interrogated at Raigada police station.

The DIG, who was on his way from Sunabeda to Padampur to address a press conference on the arrest and surrender of Naxalites, was killed when a bullet hit his head. He was immediately taken to the Rayagada hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Initially, the local police attributed the incident as the handiwork of the suspected naxalites and jumped into a conclusion that it was a planned attack on the DIG.

Mr Mishra and Director General of Police Amarananda Pattnaik had not ruled out the possible involvement of the left-wing ultras in killing of Mr Singh.

However, no naxalite outfits had claimed responsibility for the killing.

EDS: Picking up suitably from earlier series.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered a high-level police inquiry headed by the Director General of Police. The DGP will visit Rayagada and the place where Mr Singh was shot dead for an on the spot investigation today. Sources said the inquiry would reveal whether it was a planned attack by Naxalites or accidental firing.

Senior police officials involved in anti-naxalite operation in the state say the way Mr Singh was killed could not be ascribed to the handiwork of the Naxalites as they normally resort to a more aggressive attack including laying of landmines and firing bullets from all sides on the police convoy.

The Naxalites also normally come in groups and are heavily armed while carrying out such an operation But in the case of Mr Singh, no evidence had so far revealed the presence of armed Naxalites at the spot.

It was rather a single bullet that killed the DIG instead of an armed attack on the vehicle and Mr Singh. Police said the incident occurred near Gumma Ghat when the vehicle was intercepted by a group of people who were forcibly collecting donation from passersby for Kali puja.

The DIG had got down from his vehicle, confronted the people and cleared the traffic. When he went to his vehicle, sources said the mob started pelting stones at the DIG which prompted the two PSOs to open fire to disperse the crowd.

A shot was fired which hit Mr Singh on the back of his head leading to instant death.

UNI