Orissa CM orders probe, announces compensation for killed policemen

Nayagarh (Orissa), Feb 17 : Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced that rupees 10 lakh each would be paid to the family of the policemen killed in the Maoist attack, and asked the State Home Secretary to conduct an inquiry into lacunae in the security at the arms depots.

"A compensation of rupees 10 lakh will be given to each police personnel killed in last night encounter and ex-gratia payment of rupees two lakhs to each civilian who was killed. There will be free treatment of course for all the injured person," said Patnaik.

He said that additional 600 police personnel have been mobilised in the disturbed area

Patnaik air-dashed to Nayagarh town on Saturday and visited the armouries looted in the naxalite attack late on Friday night.

He told the State Assembly that a massive manhunt had been mounted. Patnaik also held a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat to review the situation.

The Centre had agreed to his request to send 100 greyhound personnel to assist the State police, he said.

Patnaik directed the State Home Secretary to conduct an inquiry into lacunae in the security at the arms depots and submit a report within a week.

Fifteen people including 13 policemen, a civilian and a gram rakhi (village guard) were killed when armed Naxalites unleashed a wave of attacks on police establishments like stations, district police armoury and police training centre in Nayagarh town late on Friday night.

Twelve policemen and women have also sustained injuries in the attacks and have been hospitalised. The condition of some of the injured police personnel is stated to be critical.

In a daring and meticulously planned wave of attacks, the ultras virtually laid a siege to the town.

The Naxals who included women cadres have looted huge quantities of arms and ammunitions from the district armoury in a truck and a bus they hijacked; besides setting on fire the police stations and vehicles. The arms looted by the ultras included light machine guns and assault rifles.

ANI