Judicial probe into tribals' displacement in Orissa's Kaling Nagar demanded

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): A group of eminent citizens on Thursday met the Resident Commissioner of Orissa in the national capital to convey their resentment over State Government's high handedness in evicting the local tribal people.

The group was agitated over the recent incident of police firing on displaced people of Kaling Nagar in Orissa.

In a joint memorandum submitted to Orissa Resident Commissioner Sunil Kumar Bhargav, it was demanded that a judicial inquiry be conducted by a sitting High Court Judge in the entire issue of displacement of tribal people and loss of lives as well as properties in Kaling Nagar.

The group included Rajinder Sachar, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Kuldeep Naiyar, eminent journalist, ND Pancholi, Supreme Court Advocate, Prof. NK Bhattacharya, and Madhu Bhaduri, former Ambassador.

"The firing was totally unwarranted as the movement was justified and peaceful. Instead of talking to people and taking them on board, the Naveen Patnaik is doing an unconstitutional work," Sachar told the reporters after submitting the memorandum to the Commissioner in New Delhi.

The group members also demanded punishment to the guilty officers of May 12 and March 30, 2010 police firing.

The concerned citizens demanded a compensation of Rs. 500,000 to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 300,000 to the injured persons.

"This is a wanton attack on the basic right to life and livelihood of the poor and hapless tribals in Kaling Nagar," Kuldeep Naiyar said. (ANI)