Panel ask cops to submit affidavit

Panel ask cops to submit affidavit

BHUBANESWAR: (visakeo)-Justice Sarat Chandra Mohapatra Judicial Commission probing the Kandhamal riots on Friday asked three senior Orissa police officers to submit affidavits on the possible involvement of persons, institutions and groups in the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.

The one-man panel issued the direction to Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Southern range, R P Koche, Kandhamal SP Praveen Kumar and former SP of the district Nikhil Kanodia.

Though the three had earlier submitted affidavits, their contents were not in accordance with the terms of reference of the commission, Justice Mohapatra said as a three-day hearing began here.

While the commission was to ascertain the reasons behind the riots and possible involvement of any group, person or institution in the killing of Saraswati, the three IPS officers did not touch the subject, said V V Ramdas, the government advocate attached to the commission.

"The IPS officers have given information on the ethnic clash, not touching sensitive issues like communal violence and possible involvement of individuals, groups or institutions," he said.The three were given time to re-submit their affidavits, Ramdas said.