PSOs accused of killing DIG remanded in judicial custody

Rayagada, Oct 25 (UNI) Personal Security Officers(PSO) S N Sharanghi and A K Sharanghi, accused of killing South Western Range DIG Jaswinder Singh. were remanded in judicial custody today.

Both the security officers were arrested yesterday by the Rayagada police after the driver of the DIG lodged an FIR narrating the incident leading to Mr Singh's death.

They were produced before a First Class Magistrate at Laxmipur amid tight security.

The Magistrate rejecting their bail petitions remanded them in judicial custody.

Police then took the two PSOs to Koraput jail.

The two PSOs were accompanying the DIG from Sunabeda to Padamapur on October 23, when the tragic incident took place near the Badakutinga near Rayagada.

State Director General of Police Amarananda Pattnaik, who airdashed to Rayagada to conduct the probe, told mediapersons that the DIG was killed when a 9 mm gun carried by PSO S N Sharanghi went off accidentally inside the vehicle and hit the DIG on the back of his head. Mr Singh died on the spot.

The PSOs had tried to project the incident as a naxalite attack but later confessed to the crime after driver C S Behera narrated the story in the FIR lodged with the Rayagada police station.

The Orissa government had already ordered a crime branch inquiry into the incident and the Rayagada police had registered murder case against the two constables recruited in 2003.

Police said PSO S N Sharangi, who killed the DIG, joined his posting only on October 21 last, while the other PSO was posted in September last.

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