CRPF sweeper hacked to death in Kandhmal

Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 (UNI) In a fresh spurt of violence in the strife-torn Kandhmal, a CRPF sweeper was hacked to death by some unknown assailants in a forest.

Kandhmal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar told UNI over phone that after massive search operation, the body of the CRPF staff was recovered from jungle and brought to the camp late last night.

He said one Bakhsis Singh, working as sweeper in the Gundani CRPF camp, left the camp to buy some chicken. He was wearing a khaki dress.

Some six to seven people suddenly appeared and assaulted him with lathis. He was then dragged to the nearby jungle and later hacked to death.

The SP said intensive combing operation was launched in the area to nab the people involved in the killing. No one was arrested in connection with the incident.

Mr Kumar said barring the killing of the CRPF sweeper, no other untoward incident was reported from the trouble-torn district during the last few days.

Kandhmal has been witnessing arson, communal violence and attacks since the past one month after VHP leader Swami Laxmnanada Saraswati and four of his disciples were gunned down by unknown assailants on the night of August 23 at the Jalaspeta Ashram under Tumudibandh police station in the district.

Although the situation in the district is returning to normalcy, the district authorities clamped indefinite night curfew in the nine sensitive police station areas. The arson and violence had so far claimed 37 lives in the district.

UNI DP DPM SW RAI1347