C'garh Govt orders inquiry into Bastar encounter

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, May 7 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh Government has ordered an inquiry into the reports that five tribals were killed in a police encounter in Santoshpur village in Naxalite-infested Bijapur in the tribal Bastar region on March 31.

Official sources said the bodies of four tribals were dug out in the presence of senior police officials and sent for post-mortem.

Residents of Ponjer village have alleged a group of tribals, who were collecting 'mahua' flowers, were picked up by police and taken to nearby Santoshpur. Five of them were killed, while one was missing.

It was being understood that police killed the villagers on the suspicion that they were naxals.

Senior police officials have denied making comment in this regard saying the matter was being investigated.

UNI