By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 20, 2016 : National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has summoned the Home Secretary, Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) Development secretary and Director General of Police to appear before it on July 21 in connection with Kandhamal police firing in which five innocent lives were lost during an anti-Maoist operation in Kurtamgarh forest on the night of July 8.

The NCSC Chairman PL Punia on Monday told media in New Delhi on Monday that the Commission has served notices to the state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director Intelligence and Director (Operation) Special Operations Group (SOG).

The NCSC has categorically sought a report from the state government on action against the guilty police officers while emphasizing on the application of provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities against S C & ST Act against them.

Punia visited Baliguda block headquarters on July 14 and talked to people, officials and others about the firing. Just a day after a team of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) led by its Chairman Rameshwar Oraon visited the same place to conduct an on-spot inquiry,

Punia had in clear terms after his visit said that it was not a case of cross firing as claimed by police but an instance of a unilateral opening of fire by the police when there was no provocation from the other side.

Three of the deceased in the police firing belonged to the scheduled caste communities.